"Project Kartoon #13" Photograph - Limited Edition of 5

Michal Zahornacky is a Slovak visual artist and photographer based in Brno, Czech Republic.
He sees photography as a visual language—one that allows him to express a personal way of seeing, to explore new forms, and to develop an authorial approach rooted in precision, experimentation, and visual clarity.

His work often balances on the edge between reality and illusion.
He investigates how far a photographic image can be disrupted—optically, physically, or structurally—while remaining faithful to the medium itself, without relying on digital manipulation.
This approach is central to his series CURVES, in which portraits are physically distorted by the movement of water during the exposure. He is fascinated by the moment when the viewer begins to question whether they are still looking at a photograph.

His process combines detailed preparation with controlled unpredictability.
Some series are based on carefully planned visual sketches, while others rely on methods whose results cannot be fully foreseen.
What connects them is a search for authenticity and a deep respect for photography as a physical trace of reality.

Zahornacký’s work has been exhibited across Europe and Asia and has received recognition in several international photography awards.
In addition to his personal projects, he also collaborates with cultural institutions, where he applies his distinctive approach to portraiture and visual concept development.

His aim is not to reproduce the world, but to question the image we have of it.