Iconostasis
Designer
Olena Shalena
Country
Switzerland
category
Portrait
Prize
Official Selection 2025
Short Description
With her face framed in celestial glass and echoed by spectral reflections, the subject becomes an icon for the digital age. Iconostasis draws from sacred tradition and sci-fi aesthetics to craft a vision of divine femininity—unreachable, multiplied, and immortalized. A portrait of spiritual simulation, poised between reverence and replication.
Process
I wanted to create a portrait that felt both futuristic and timeless. I’ve always been interested in mixing beauty with something a little strange, and this image plays with that. The glowing halo and pearls make her look like some kind of queen or goddess, but also a bit distant or untouchable. It’s about strength, mystery, and how we see ourselves—or how others see us.