My favorite art is the one born from pure love, where an invisible thread connects my soul to the deepest part of another. Through MANUS, I’ve discovered that photography is just the result; the true masterpiece is the connection. By photographing hands and asking soul-stirring questions, I create a space for others to feel seen and honored. It’s an exchange of empathy where I learn from their lives, and in that shared vulnerability, we both truly encounter ourselves.

I find inspiration in love—in the moment the soul stirs and we truly feel. It’s in the 'click' when the heart races from emotion. As a sensitive person, I find it everywhere: in the wind through trees, the reflection in my dog’s eyes, or embracing my mother after work. I feel it in the power of running kilometers and when someone holds my hands in tears, moved by my art. From a crimson sunset to a shared silence, that is where my inspiration lives.

I would transform this grant into time and movement. First, I’d secure the creative silence needed to process years of work. Then, I’d take MANUS on a global expedition to capture the hands of those forgotten by history—from traditional artisans to survivors—merging their voices with their portraits in an immersive sensory exhibition. I don’t just want to show photos; I want to create a sanctuary where the world can witness, through the texture of a hand, the universal need to love and be seen.