Bochica Teaching the Muisca
Luis Alberto Acuña
This 1960-70s mural depicts Bochica, the bearded sage and civilizing hero of Muisca mythology, imparting moral and spiritual lessons. Seated before young disciples, he holds symbols of power and knowledge, including a woven banner. A revered figure, Bochica was believed to have formed the Tequendama Falls and taught the Muisca how to live harmoniously.
The Rape of Proserpina
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
From this angle, Bernini’s technical genius is apparent. Pluto’s gripping hands sink into Proserpina’s flesh with astonishing realism, turning marble into living form. The work (1621–22) stages emotional and physical tension at its peak, embodying the Baroque goal of stirring awe, drama, and pathos in a single breathtaking moment.
Head of a Youth
Michelangelo
This charcoal head of a youth (1511–12) fills a shallow lunette, the face turned sharply upward and modeled with dense, sculptural shading. Created while Michelangelo worked at Villa Farnesina, it is understood as a visual homage to Raphael’s work in the same setting. The fusion of muscular anatomy with a calm, idealized profile demonstrates how Michelangelo engaged directly with Raphael’s Renaissance style.
Apollo and Daphne
Bernini
Seen from behind, Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne (1622–25) reveals the spiraling tension of flight and pursuit. Daphne’s transformation accelerates—branches burst from her hair as Apollo strains forward, barely grounded. This angle heightens the illusion of motion, capturing the myth’s fleeting climax with lyrical virtuosity.
Tapestry of Fantastical Beasts in a River
Michael Coxcie
Woven in Brussels (c.1565) in a Flemish workshop according to Coxcie's design, this tapestry depicts hybrid beasts and serpents in a dense river landscape reflecting Renaissance fascination with nature’s wildness and moral allegory, symbolizing sin and chaos before divine order.
Judith Beheading Holofernes (detail)
Caravaggio
In this dramatic scene from Judith Beheading Holofernes (c.1598), the Assyrian general Holofernes struggles in his final moments as Judith, the Jewish widow, delivers the fatal blow. Caravaggio captures his terror with a contorted face and blood spurting across the bed, while Judith's hands hold him with determination. This raw depiction distills the narrative to its core: virtue triumphing over tyranny, conveyed with intense immediacy.
Apollo and Daphne (detail)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
In this electrifying detail from Apollo and Daphne (1622–25), Daphne’s transformation peaks: her fingers stretch skyward as they fracture into laurel branches. Bernini’s carving achieves an uncanny fluidity—Apollo’s embrace contrasts her fleeing limbs, while bark and hair blur into motion, embodying divine metamorphosis and tragic escape.
Christ Blessing
Bernardino Luini
In this serene image of Christ (c. 1520), Luini captures divine benevolence with a gentle gesture of blessing. The soft modeling of features, rich red garment, and delicate curls echo Leonardo da Vinci’s influence, yet Luini’s style emphasizes a tranquil spirituality. The raised hand unites authority with compassion, inviting personal devotion.
Chiminigagua Releases Light
Luis Alberto Acuña
Detail from a mural (1960–70s) reimagining the Chibcha creation myth. The supreme god Chiminigagua raises his arms as radiant birds burst forth, bringing light to the cosmos. A glowing sun and celestial rainbow crown the scene, marking the divine act that initiated life and order in the Muisca universe.
Spoliarium
Juan Luna
This vast 1884 canvas depicts slain gladiators dragged from the Roman arena, their bodies stripped in the spoliarium — the chamber beneath the Colosseum where the dead were despoiled. Luna used the scene as an allegory for the Philippines under Spanish rule, exposing oppression and voicing a nationalist cry for dignity and liberation.
The Rape of Ganymede
Baldassarre Peruzzi
This Renaissance ceiling panel (1509–14) shows Zeus, in the form of an eagle, abducting the beautiful youth Ganymede to Olympus. The myth frames the act as a moment of divine erotic desire, with Ganymede raised to immortal companionship as Zeus’s beloved. The term rape follows the Latin raptus, meaning abduction, not its modern sense.
Apollo and Daphne with The Apotheosis of Romulus
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Mariano Rossi
Bernini’s sculpture (1622–25) captures the climactic moment in Ovid’s Metamorphoses when the nymph Daphne, fleeing Apollo’s desire, transforms into a laurel tree. Above, Rossi’s Apotheosis of Romulus celebrates Rome’s divine origins. Romulus ascends, clutching Roma—helmeted symbol of the eternal city—while Fame, winged and bearing a trumpet, heralds his glory with laurel crowns. Together, sculpture and fresco exalt mythic transformation and Rome’s enduring legacy.
Judith Beheading Holofernes
Jacopo Tintoretto
This painting (c. 1577) by the studio of Jacopo Tintoretto depicts the biblical scene where Judith beheads Holofernes, an Assyrian general, to save her people. Executed in the Mannerist style, it emphasizes tension and emotion, typical of the Late Renaissance. The scene symbolizes courage and divine justice, reflecting the era’s interest in heroic narratives.
Chiminigagua and the Origen of Chibcha
Luis Alberto Acuña
This mural (1960–70s) reimagines the Chibcha creation myth. At center, the god Chiminigagua releases radiant birds to bring light to the cosmos. To his right stands Bachué with her son Iguaque, founders of the Muisca people. At left is Chaquén, guardian of lands and borders. The scene is set at the sacred Iguaque Lagoon, the cradle of Muisca origin.
The Comedy, Parody, and Tragedy
Rodel Tapaya
This painting (2018) from Tapaya’s Urban Labyrinth series swirls with hybrid beings, masks, and mythic figures at a chaotic table. Angelic wings, demonic grins, and spectral visages blur folk imagination with urban satire. Tapaya weaves Philippine mythology into contemporary critique, where humor and menace mirror the fractured realities of modern city life.
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
“When the path is beautiful, do not ask where it leads.” — Zen proverb
Welcome to my travel photography!
For as long as I can remember, my path has been one of discovery—seeking beauty, timelessness, and connection in every corner of the world. It has also been a journey of deep learning and understanding. I’ve been an avid traveler (or perhaps a travel addict?) for most of my life. My love for travel began long before I ever left home: as a child, I drew a fantasy map of my grandparents’ apartment and “traveled” through it with my cousin Sonya, imagining adventures in every corner. Nearly 90 countries and countless moments of awe later, I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Thanks to the tireless and ingenious programming of Diagilev, we’re now able to present about fifteen percent of the images I’ve accumulated over the years. More will be released in small batches depending on your interest. While the first release leans toward museum photography, later ones will include more nature, architecture, culture, and general travel experiences. If you’d like to receive email notifications about new releases, feel free to reach out—no commercial use, ever.
Throughout my travels, I’ve been drawn to two intertwined kinds of discovery. One is intellectual: learning why the world is the way it is. History became my guide, shaping my perspective and filling my camera roll with museums and old buildings. To me, history is not the past—it is the key to understanding the present and how the world became what it is. The other is emotional: seeking moments of elevation—spirituality, beauty, harmony—often found in nature, monasteries, and ancient sacred spaces. Together, these impulses shape my photography. It invites you to learn, admire, and soar—to rise above the mundane and see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
Much of my later travel became possible thanks to my job with Delta Air Lines, but the wanderlust began years earlier. By the time I joined the industry, I had already visited over 35 countries and lived in several—largely thanks to a backpacking journey around the world with Luis León, whose face appears in many early photos. I grew up in Ufa in the USSR, and since leaving it I have lived, studied, and worked in Latvia, the United States, France, South Korea, Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.
A life of near-constant movement may seem a little crazy, but it has deepened my understanding of the world and produced the photography you are about to see. Over the years, my style has evolved—more intentional, more refined—yet its core remains the same: a search for understanding, timeless beauty, and a connection to those who walked this earth long before us.
I hope these photos stir something in your soul, just as they did in mine. I’d love to hear from you—whether reactions, suggestions, corrections, or a request to be added to the email list for new releases (no commercial use, I promise). You can learn more about my travels here, and my academic life here.
Enjoy our shared journey!