Mermaid

Project Overview:

“Mermaid — An Emigrant’s Tale” by Maria Tulchinskaya tells the poignant story of a young woman who arrives alone in a new country, portrayed through the allegorical figure of a mermaid. This photographic series blends reality with fantasy, reflecting the profound isolation and courage that define the immigrant experience.


Introduction: 

Once upon a time, in a world completely different from ours—like land and water, where you cannot breathe underwater without gills, nor breathe with gills on land—there was a young mermaid named M. Far from her familiar watery realm, M. found herself alone in a land where no one spoke her language. Her story unfolds—a tale of survival and transformation in a place that, despite its opportunities, is filled with challenges and loneliness.


Conceptual Framework: 

M.’s journey is not just a transition between countries but a passage between realms—from the fluidity of water to the solidity of land. This series captures her attempts to adapt to her new environment, where each step is an act of courage, and every obstacle tests her resolve. The mythical struggle of the mermaid becomes a metaphor for the real and symbolic barriers that all emigrants face.


In this project a mermaid ventures beyond her aquatic haven, bravely embracing the challenges of a new world. This portrayal captures the essence of migration, symbolizing the emotional journey faced by immigrants in unfamiliar territories. Each step she takes is a testament to the resilience required to leave behind the known for the unknown. The mermaid’s departure echoes the struggles of immigrants seeking a better life, mirroring their emotional turmoil and determination. The image encapsulates the vulnerability of starting anew, depicting the mermaid amidst the pain and beauty of her transformation. It is a visual narrative of the universal immigrant experience, resonating with the courage it takes to tread unexplored paths.


This character is a composite image based on my personal experience and the experiences of those I know. We all see ourselves as mermaids trying to find new life in an unfamiliar world. This traumatic experience is transformed into fairy-tale stories and characters in an attempt to find grounding, in the hope that we will manage and not dissolve into the sea foam—the foam of time. We believe that our tale of transformation will end well, bringing us happiness.

Woman with butterfly over eye, symbolizing obscured vision and adaptation challenges
This captures the nuanced struggles of adapting to a new world. The subject, confronts the viewer with a serene yet detached expression. A large, iridescent butterfly covers her eye, symbolizing her attempts to connect with new friends in an unfamiliar environment. This beautiful yet obstructive butterfly illustrates the paradox of her situation—while she is drawn to the vibrant possibilities of her new surroundings, her vision is partially obscured, representing the unseen barriers to truly seeing and understanding this new world. This metaphor of the butterfly not only hints at the beauty and potential of new beginnings but also the inherent challenges of integration, where the very efforts to connect can sometimes hinder clear perception and full acceptance in a foreign culture. This image invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of migration, where the search for connection can be both hopeful and obstructed
Upside-down reflection of woman in swim cap with goldfish, portraying isolation and transformation
This image eloquently symbolizes the disoriented and inverted reality often experienced by immigrants. The photograph depicts a woman's face submerged in a clear bowl, mirrored by the water, with her gaze directly confronting the viewer, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The presence of two goldfish swimming nearby underscores a lingering connection to her aquatic, familiar past which contrasts starkly with her current existence. This artistic representation challenges the viewer to reflect on the themes of dislocation and the struggle to maintain one's identity in a world that feels upside down. The inverted perspective not only visualizes the physical and emotional upheaval but also powerfully communicates the internal turmoil of adapting to a new life where everything familiar seems distant and distorted
Woman with swim cap and transparent bubbles, symbolizing vulnerability and adaptation
The bubbles symbolizing the ephemeral and delicate nature of her current state. These bubbles can be seen as protective yet fragile barriers, echoing the mermaid's own precarious situation in a new and unfamiliar environment. The use of clear, bubble-like elements visually enhances the theme of vulnerability, serving as a reminder of the thin veil between the known and the unknown, and the continuous challenge of maintaining one's identity amidst change
Woman in white dress and headband, holding fish, symbolizes new life challenges.
This image, the subject emerges from her traditional aquatic environment into an alien terrestrial realm, symbolically carrying with her two fish—representatives of her past life and skills that were vital in her underwater world but are now obsolete on land. Clad in a headwrap that conceals her gills beneath, she embodies the struggle of carrying remnants of a past life that no longer serves her in her new reality. The stark contrast between the serene sea in the background and the clinical simplicity of her attire foregrounds a poignant narrative of displacement and adaptation. This visual metaphor poignantly captures the isolation of holding onto a past that cannot be revived in a new world
Woman observing eye in water glass, reflecting on identity and displacement
In this visual metaphor, the subject gazes wistfully into a glass of water containing an eerie, floating eye. The pink swim cap she wears suggests a displaced entity, one that has been removed from her natural aquatic environment. This image poignantly captures her longing for her lost world, underscoring the theme of irretrievable change and the impossibility of returning to a former life. The stillness of the water contrasts sharply with her intense gaze, highlighting her deep yearning for a past that remains just out of reach, encapsulated by the disembodied eye — a symbol of both vision and disconnection
Blonde woman in swim cap by cloudy sky, symbolizing rebirth and vulnerability
This powerful image from Maria Tulchinskaya's "Mermaid" series captures a striking visual metaphor for the immigrant experience. The photograph depicts a woman, swathed in bandages, holding a sizable fish—an emblem of her origins and the life she has left behind. Her expression is serene yet pensive, embodying the solitude and the contemplation that accompany displacement.This piece invites viewers to ponder the nuanced realities of uprooting one's life, suggesting the burdens and gifts that such a journey inevitably entails. The fish, a creature out of its element much like the subject herself, symbolizes the cultural and personal baggage that immigrants carry to new shores. The bandages may represent the attempts to heal or conceal the emotional and physical scars of migration.Maria's work challenges observers to recognize the complex interplay of loss and resilience that defines the migrant narrative. This image serves as a poignant reminder of the adaptation and the transformation that characterizes the transition into unfamiliar territories. Through this evocative portrayal, Tulchinskaya encourages a deeper empathy and understanding for the immigrant's plight, inviting curators, artists, and art historians alike to reflect on the profound impact of cultural displacement.
Woman in white holding thistles, portrays introspection and solitude
This portrait marks the transition from Maria Tulchinskaya's "Mermaid" series to her next project, "Thistle: Labyrinths of Emigration." Here, the protagonist is depicted in a contemplative pose, holding a bouquet of thistle, which symbolizes resilience and survival in harsh conditions—mirroring the trials faced by emigrants. The thistle's sharp edges and hardy nature reflect the tough, often painful journey of adapting to a new environment
Woman surrounded by fish, symbolizing disorientation and isolation
This image vividly captures the emotional conflict of a heroine who, though somewhat adapted to her new environment, yearns for the world where she was born—a world that no longer has a place for her. Surrounded by fish that swim freely around her, she appears as an anomaly; her disheveled hair and closed eyes suggest a longing to escape her current reality. The aquatic elements symbolize her inherent connection to her origins, yet the stark contrast with her human form underscores her displacement. Wrapped tightly in a white robe, she clings to herself, symbolizing both her adaptation and her isolation. This powerful visual narrative explores the complex emotions of nostalgia, loss, and the unattainable desire to return to a past that has irrevocably changed.
Woman in white holding a fish, symbolizing new beginnings in a strange land.
This powerful image captures a striking visual metaphor for the immigrant experience. The photograph depicts a woman, swathed in bandages, holding a sizable fish—an emblem of her origins and the life she has left behind. Her expression is serene yet pensive, embodying the solitude and the contemplation that accompany displacement.This piece invites viewers to ponder the nuanced realities of uprooting one's life, suggesting the burdens and gifts that such a journey inevitably entails. The fish, a creature out of its element much like the subject herself, symbolizes the cultural and personal baggage that immigrants carry to new shores. The bandages may represent the attempts to heal or conceal the emotional and physical scars of migration.Maria's work challenges observers to recognize the complex interplay of loss and resilience that defines the migrant narrative. This image serves as a poignant reminder of the adaptation and the transformation that characterizes the transition into unfamiliar territories. Through this evocative portrayal, Tulchinskaya encourages a deeper empathy and understanding for the immigrant's plight, inviting curators, artists, and art historians alike to reflect on the profound impact of cultural displacement.
Woman with bubbles emerging from mouth, symbolizing silent struggle and adaptation.
This photograph from Maria Tulchinskaya's "Mermaid" series captures a woman emerging as if from the depths, set against a backdrop of bubbles that evoke the underwater realm of her past. Her stoic expression and the bubbles issuing from her mouth suggest her attempt to speak or breathe in a new environment, symbolizing the often silent struggle immigrants face when adapting to a foreign culture.The circular motif of the bubbles serves both as a metaphor for isolation and as a visual echo of her otherworldly origins. This image eloquently portrays the blend of beauty and melancholy that accompanies the transformation from one's native element to an alien land. Tulchinskaya invites the viewer to delve into the emotional resonance of displacement, highlighting the tension between preserving one's identity and assimilating into a new world.You might find this work a compelling exploration of the themes of alienation and adaptation, rendered through the lens of contemporary photography with a deeply personal and mythological twist. This image not only captures attention but also encourages profound reflection on the experience of cultural transition and personal metamorphosis
Woman with head bandage and thistle, embodying resilience and healing.
This image from series portrays the unsettling transition of a mermaid into the human world, emphasizing the physical and psychological scars of cultural assimilation. The stark bandages and the eerie sea urchin on her mouth symbolize the painful silencing of her past life and identity. Through the use of visual metaphors, Tulchinskaya eloquently captures the profound sense of isolation and displacement experienced by immigrants as they attempt to integrate into new societies. This powerful composition invites viewers to reflect on the complex narratives of migration and the resilience required to navigate such transformative journeys
Woman partially hidden behind layered glass, evoking emotional and physical barriers
Series portrays a young woman partially obscured by glass vases, evoking a sense of being trapped or cut off. The juxtaposition of her clear, direct gaze and the distortion caused by the glass symbolizes the barriers and challenges faced by immigrants adapting to a new environment. The inclusion of a swim cap and the water-like distortions in the glass layers highlight themes of identity and adaptation in unfamiliar territories, resonating with viewers who understand the complexity of living between two worlds. This compelling visual metaphor invites curators and art historians to explore the nuanced experiences of cultural assimilation and personal transformation
Woman with fishbowl headpiece symbolizes isolation in surreal portrait.
This image intertwines fantasy with reality, depicting a woman shrouded in a transparent, fishbowl-like headpiece, topped with a solitary fish. The setting—a muted, overcast landscape—complements the surreal yet subdued expression of the subject, enhancing the allegory of isolation and detachment experienced by immigrants. This piece artistically explores themes of confinement and adaptation, visualizing the internal experience of feeling both visible and invisible in a new environment. The visual metaphor of the fishbowl invites viewers to consider the barriers of language and culture that encapsulate and define the immigrant experience

PROJECT

Labyrinths of Emigration
Labyrinths of Emigration