Origins of an Emotion by Monika Merva

Issue 53

My intention is to make images that compel the viewer to reflect and deepen his own understanding of the world, to look intently and intimately at one’s surroundings and relationships.

I photograph subjects that are quiet, yet evoke an emotional intensity. I search for beauty in the ordinary - surprises in the commonplace. I am fascinated by the universality of the individual, and strive to reveal the feelings that draw me to my subject.

In contemplating this series, I am confronted with the uneasy sense that this body of work is as much about beginnings as it is about endings, life and death. It is about securing memories of loved ones and moments, allowing us to keep them close and safe, even if it is a false sense of security.

Monika Merva lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
To view more of Monika's work, please visit her website.