Portals of Existence / Doors and Passages

"Portals of Existence" is a personal photography project I began in the spring of 2024, which continues to evolve as an ongoing visual exploration. Initially conceived as a documentation of architectural thresholds, I sought to consciously catalog doors around the world using a quasi-typological approach during my travels. While residing in France, I discovered profound meanings concealed within these seemingly mundane structures: a door often serves as the external manifestation of its owner's aesthetic consciousness; at times, pushing open a weathered entrance from a cacophonous street reveals an unexpected sanctuary of tranquility. Through this visual study, I began to contemplate the metaphysical significance of doors as liminal spaces—physical dividers that simultaneously connect and separate realms of human existence.

Fortunately, beginning in 2025, this exploration expanded through a meaningful collaboration with Düsseldorf-based photographer and kindred spirit @X.Zhang DVF e.V. Together, we have methodically expanded the conceptual boundaries of this work, transforming it from mere documentation into a philosophical inquiry. The project primarily features color photographs without restrictions on format or medium (embracing both digital and analog processes), while strictly adhering to documentary principles—no cropping, recomposing, or digital manipulation of objects. Through this deliberate methodology, we attempt to reveal the universal language of thresholds across cultures, examining how these portals—both literal and metaphorical—mediate our relationship with space, privacy, and the eternal human desire for passage between worlds.