Fold the Soul
2021-2022
Polaroid films
"Fold the Soul" delves into representing the intricate identities of young people by physically folding their portraits and juxtaposing the remade images with Polaroid film leftovers. Drawing from personal struggles in defining identity, Lesi aims to archive how individuals perceive themselves and the world. The project challenges perceptions through Erik Erikson's psychosocial development stages.
Lesi intervenes within the pictures, manipulating Polaroid films to create a world that sparks viewer contemplation. The pleats metaphorically represent the layers of identity, endlessly folding and unfolding. Subjects are primarily random strangers, emphasizing their anonymity. Inspired by photography and painting, Lesi's emotionless portraits discard conventional essence-capturing, aiming to transcend traditional portrait limitations.