Contemporary photographer Natalya Urmanova's camera is a time traveller

Photographer Natalya Urmanova who is based in Dubai, recently held a solo exhibition titled Whimsical World, at The Warehouse gallery.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

It marked her first show at the venue and her third photography exhibition in Dubai. "All images in the collection were created specifically for this exhibition," she said. "They reflect a concise, immersive vision that defines my unique aesthetic, as both a person and an artist.The moody, stylised space of The Warehouse perfectly complemented the show, drawing viewers into the artist's whimsical universe.

While her work clearly reflects her relationship to fashion—having devoted 15 years to high-end fashion houses—the images went beyond style, capturing her outlook on life, her attention to detail, and her imaginative perception of the world. She defines her artistic philosophy by quoting Pablo Picasso. "Picasso said that 'others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not'. He also said 'everything you can imagine is real.' I try to create my art in line with these sayings of the great artist." For Natalya, photography is not only about capturing or documenting reality—it is about re-imagining it. "I find great artistic joy in this," she says. She is drawn to the question about what is reality, both in life and in photography. However comprehensive she tries to make her art, she finds in the end that "there is something you leave in or out of focus intentionally or subconsciously. So reality remains a deeply subjective topic."