We chat to photographer Denisse Ariana Pérez about her Dominican upbringing, not wanting to be put in a box and porridge…

Q
Can you describe your work in three words?
A
Human, I hope… and maybe a meeting point in between reality and fantasy. Yea that’s it, fantastic realism!

Q
That makes sense, your work feels like it also provides as much of an observing role as a documentary photography. But your characters are also carefully placed, showcasing beauty and vulnerability. Where do intuition and intention come in?
A
When I first started photographing I lacked intuition but the more I created these narratives, the more I became aware of the things that touched me. I gained conscious emotions. I only highlight beauty and never want to victimize already marginalized communities.
I want to go against these stereotypical narratives. I work from my gut, but am very aware of building new visual foundations and not conforming to societal expectations. So there’s always both intuition and intention in my work.

Q
How do you like to see your photography evolve?
A
I’m actually in the middle of hopefully growing as an artist. Last week I moved from Copenhagen to Barcelona to study a master in photography and design. It was actually one of the few schools in Europe I could find where we get to go to class instead of getting your degree via zoom.