Touching the Void (2008) - Limited Edition of 10 + 2APs Photograph

Zena Holloway (born 1973 in Bahrain) is an underwater photographic artist living in London. Her work deviates from the stereotypical imagery associated with underwater photography. For Holloway the underwater landscape serves as a backdrop, using cinematic drama and painterly aesthetics, she directs her models along themes of universal human experiences: love, loss, intimacy and romance. Her recent work Flowers for Jeju : The Last Mermaids focuses on the historical and spiritual tradition of the Haenyeo of South Korea. The diving women hang weightless, deep in the ocean, on the threshold of becoming lost in the black water or rising to the surface to return to the real world. Through the mediums of photography, dance, costume, and narrative, this work explores the unique ancestral relationship between the haenyeo and oceans during a period of rapid ecological, industrial and technological change. Alongside her dedication to long-term personal projects, she is a regular contributor to editorial, for publications such as The Sunday Times Magazine, Paris Match and the FT. Her work is exhibited globally and she has been the recipient of many international photographic and film awards such as AOP, APPLIED ARTS, COMM ARTS, RPS, PDN, CANNES and IPA. Zena first gained recognition as a fine art photographer in 2005 with “swansong”. Since then her unique style of photography has led to many solo and group exhibitions worldwide.