Budapest-based photographer Flora Borsi (previously featured) began teaching herself photo-editing at the age of eleven, eventually pursuing formal education at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest. Her distinctive approach to fine art photography merges technical precision with conceptual depth, positioning her as a recognized figure on US Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and Hasselblad’s first Heroine of the Year in 2021. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Louvre, and her artwork was the face of Adobe Photoshop in 2014, while she created the corporate identity for Adobe’s Creative Cloud in 2019.
The “Animeyed” series demonstrates a meticulous process where photoshoots take approximately one hour with matching hairstyle and makeup, followed by digital manipulation requiring up to 20 hours per image. For each composition, Borsi matches her hairstyle, makeup, and eye color to the characteristics of each animal, dyeing her hair orange to mimic the hue of a goldfish and painting her face snow white to match the texture of a dove. The artist explores the characteristics of the animal and applies makeup to fit the animal’s uniqueness such as color and figure, then uses computer graphics in post-production. The concept originated when she took a picture with her dog in which the eyes overlapped with her own, creating a feeling as though this was an eye of hers. Some animals hold deeply personal meaning; the black swan resonates with her experiences of being misunderstood or excluded for being different, where she created a dramatic feathery eye using digital techniques to visually express that kinship.
Borsi uses masterful photo manipulation to create surreal images thematically focused on identity, relationships, emotions, and dreams, with immaculate technique and subtle conceptual ideas creating evocations of universal emotions, from lust and desire to despair and loss. She captures the complex strength and fragility of the human psyche, expertly visualizing dark fantasies and atmospheric dreams, utilizing the uncanny and clever metaphor. Her work often features the female body, playing with hiding and revealing the eyes or face to leave only the feminine form, exploring questions of female representation and the relationship between body and self. Beyond personal narrative, Animeyed is also a call for empathy, aiming to celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of each species—not just aesthetically, but ethically.
More info: Website, Behance, Instagram.
in Bahia.