Photographer Sama Sbrissa is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘HOMEOSTASIS – Amorphea’. To see Sama’s body of work, click on any photograph.

EQUUS FERUS CABALLUS Perissodattili Perissodactyla

PARAPONERA CLAVATA Imenotteri Hymenoptera

In this project, I explore aesthetic and scientific representations of life and biodiversity, drawing on the concept of Homeostasis, which refers to the natural tendency of all living organisms to achieve relative stability. This initial version is part of a broader exploration encompassing all life kingdoms on planet Earth. Here, I create living beings within the Eukaryota subdomain known as Amorphea—essentially, the animal kingdom.

I employ the technique of collage, executed entirely by hand. I meticulously cut over 700 images using scissors, later reassembling them equally by hand. The basic elements are constituted by nude photographs taken over the years, each one unique and irreplaceable. The crafting and reassembly of these images brought to my mind the processes of cellular biology: each element, simultaneously similar and distinct, contributes to the creation of a remarkable diversity of life forms. The decision to use a wholly manual technique, embracing the possibilities offered by its inherent imperfections, pays homage to the fundamental principles of evolution and biodiversity – specifically, their emergence from an endless series of random errors and variations.

The use of preexisting photographs also recalls another fundamental characteristic of cellular life: every cell originates from a preceding one, in a process tracing back to the origins of life on Earth. This highlights the interconnectedness of all forms of life, including humans, within an ongoing and never-ending process of evolution, contamination, and transformation.

STRUTHIO CAMELUS Strutionidi Struthionidae

GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS Artiodattili Artiodactyla

BIO:

Graduated from the Higher Institute of Photography and Visual Arts in Padua, I am a Professional Photographer for over twenty years.

My art explores themes related to the body, identity, and human perception, using techniques that integrate visual and conceptual elements. I work predominantly in the studio, avoiding post-production manipulations that might betray the expressive and compositional truth of each shot. National and international exhibitions, and recognitions, have allowed my works to travel towards and through many gazes. In this project, I present collages cut out and assembled entirely by hand, giving new life to Fine Art shots from my portfolio.

This project has won the following awards:

Winner Nomination FAPA Fine Art Photography Awards 11th

First Place Winner Annual Photography Awards 2024, London. 

First Place Winner Monochrome Photography Awards International Black & White Photography Photographer of the Year 2024 New York. 

Bronze Winner TIFA Tokyo Foto Awards 2024, Tokyo. 

Second Place Winner New York Photography Award 2024, New York. 

Winner Black & White International Photography Awards 2024, Mexico City. 

Winner and Honorable Mentions 24th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers JMCA, Barcelona. 

Honorable Mention IPA International Photography Awards, Los Angeles.