PERU, SOLO – the exhibition

From childhood, we are socialized to share our experiences with others. We rarely learn how to be truly alone – how to enjoy our own company.

As we grow more independent from our families, our friendships evolve, and the pace of our lives begins to slow, we increasingly find ourselves alone. With ourselves. Yet being alone does not necessarily mean feeling lonely. It can be an opportunity to learn how to connect with ourselves and feel at home in our own company. To set off even when there is no one to wait for. To follow our own desires without having to accommodate others.

In 2024, I discovered how to become my own travel companion. This exhibition captures the latest chapter of that inner journey of discovery: Peru. I trekked at an altitude of 4,630 metres, crossing the Salkantay Pass in rain and snowfall. Carrying an eight-kilogram backpack, I followed the trails of the Andes, ventured into the Amazon rainforest, and reached tiny, remote villages rarely visited by tourists. I did it all without a detailed itinerary or a budget spreadsheet: I planned only the first two days in advance and left the remaining fifteen to spontaneity.

Unfamiliar landscapes, encounters with local people, and situations beyond our comfort zones all hold opportunities for self-discovery. Travel thus becomes more than a geographical exploration; it is also an inner journey: an experience of how solitude can become freedom, spontaneity can grow into trust, and the unknown can bring us closer to ourselves.