#mirrorselfie

Is a selfie merely a surface-level representation, or does it conceal as much as it reveals? What remains unseen in the curated transparency of our online selves? In this project, Luiza Preda explores the selfie as more than just a digital self-portrait—it becomes a psychological tool for introspection and self-construction.

Often dismissed as a product of vanity and online narcissism, the selfie is both celebrated and condemned. Yet, for Millennials and Gen Z, it serves as a powerful mechanism of identity formation, self-expression, and social belonging. At the same time, it creates distorted images of youth, shaping unrealistic expectations and reinforcing digital personas detached from reality.

However, beyond its artificiality, the selfie can also be understood as a declaration of existence—I was here, I was with these people, therefore I exist—an echo of Descartes' philosophy in the digital age. Through a deeper exploration of self-representation, this project asks: Can the selfie transcend its reputation and become a mirror into the subconscious? What aspects of human emotion, memory, and vulnerability surface when the act of self-documentation is stripped of performance?