This photo presents a powerful contrast – not only visual, but generational and symbolic. At the bottom of the frame, an older man, hunched and with his head bowed, walks past a wall marked with the words “modern slaves” – as if trapped in a world of duties, fatigue, and the weight of lived years. Above him, a young woman walks barefoot along the top of the wall, upright and light, her face turned toward the sun. She moves toward a colorful mural of a mermaid – a symbol of freedom, fantasy, and escape from reality.
This juxtaposition becomes a metaphor for intergenerational renewal: youth, not just physical but also mental, can be a catalyst for breaking free from inner limitations. The woman represents hope and the possibility of escaping systemic constraints. The man – everyday life, which, though difficult, still holds the potential for change.
In the context of the contest, the photograph reminds us that renewal can come with a fresh perspective, youthful energy, and the dream of transformation. Sometimes it’s enough to simply look up – toward what is still alive and unbound within us.
