6th Sense

Surya Badalera

A high-contrast, vertical black and white photograph depicting two human arms emerging from a stark black background, covered entirely in white soap foam. The left hand is positioned lower and slightly to the left, while the right arm extends higher, revealing defined muscles and veins beneath the bubbly texture of the foam, suggesting effort or a desperate reach.

6th Sense is an eight-image series examining how humans understand the world through both physical sensation and the internal force that guides us: intuition. Through staged portraits in a black-and-white palette that emphasizes form, gesture, and emotional tone, the series explores how people connect with their environments at a sensory level. Five photographs visualize the traditional senses - sight, sound, taste, touch, smell - through symbolic and minimal compositions. The final three, featured in the catalogue, shift to intuition: the unwritten sense that shapes perception from within, and which the series positions as an inherent element of the human experience.

    About The Artist

    A graphic featuring the word 'Inhale' in solid white, bold sans-serif text above the word 'Exhale,' which uses the same font but gradually fades from solid white to transparency towards the bottom. Both words are centered on a textured background with a gradient from a deep, muted blue at the top to a very light blue and white at the bottom. The entire image has a subtle, fine grain effect.

    Surya Badalera

    Surya Badalera is a Toronto based photographer whose practice centers on portraiture, documentary, and series-driven projects. She often examines how people, places, and gestures carry meaning through visual storytelling. Her work ranges from studio portraiture, to environmental and travel-based images, evolving to explore themes of identity and womanhood. Surya draws inspiration from her own identity and community to create imagery that is emotionally reflective and attentive to stories she feels are often overlooked.

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