The word obscurity originates from the Latin obscurus, meaning dark, dim, unclear, or difficult to understand. In art, embracing visual ambiguity can spark curiosity, draw attention, and invite deeper reflection.

This photographic series, River Abstracts, explores the aesthetic and emotional power of obscurity. By creating images that are intentionally ambiguous or enigmatic, I aim to challenge the viewer’s perception—inviting not immediate recognition, but slow contemplation.

The artistic style most closely associated with this approach is tenebrism, a technique known for its dramatic use of light and shadow. Traditionally seen in painting, tenebrism utilizes intense contrasts—often rendering backgrounds nearly black—so that the subject appears to emerge from darkness. In this case, the river itself becomes the subject that slowly reveals its form, texture, and energy through layers of shadow and light. As a result, interpretation becomes less direct. The viewer must spend time within the image, allowing meaning to surface organically.