The Feminine Uncanny as Emotional Space
When I explore giallo aesthetics in my artwork, I am not interested in recreating the male gaze that historically shaped the genre. Instead, I focus on the feminine uncanny—those moments where beauty turns introspective, where mystery arises from emotional depth rather than voyeuristic fear. The feminine uncanny feels like recognition rather than intrusion, as if the figure on the wall knows something you have forgotten about yourself. This atmosphere transforms tension into reflection, allowing darkness to become a space of inner exploration.
Portraits Rooted in Inner Agency
Traditional giallo imagery often places women in positions of danger or objectification. In my portraits, the feminine presence becomes active, centered, and self-possessed. The gaze is not passive; it observes, evaluates, and holds its own power. A closed mouth, steady posture, or luminous inner glow shifts the narrative from victimhood to internal authority. The viewer is invited into a psychological exchange rather than a spectacle. The portrait becomes a locus of agency, where softness does not erase strength.
Myth and Archetype Reclaimed
My approach draws heavily on myth and archetypal imagery, but filtered through feminine interpretation. Instead of using myth as ornament, I let it shape emotional structure. Figures echo archetypes like the oracle, the witch, or the protector—not as tropes, but as embodiments of intuition and resilience. Slavic and Mediterranean folklore offered symbolic roles to women who navigated thresholds between worlds, acting as healers, guardians, or interpreters of signs. When I weave those traditions into my work, the feminine uncanny becomes grounded in cultural memory.
Soft Horror as Subtle Power
Soft horror allows me to evoke tension without replicating violence. Rather than depicting harm, I use atmospheric cues: velvety shadows, glowing seeds, or thorned botanical forms to suggest vulnerability or transformation. The eeriness arises from subtle distortion—petals resembling teeth, roots twisting like nerves—implying that beauty contains complexity. This approach shifts horror from spectacle to internal sensation, turning discomfort into quiet empowerment. The viewer feels the tension but remains emotionally safe.
Botanical Motifs as Feminine Language
Botanical elements become essential in expressing the feminine uncanny. Vines that intertwine like relationships, mirrored petals suggesting duality, or night-blooming flowers hinting at hidden awakening all function as symbolic language. These forms communicate emotional narratives without relying on facial expression. Their softness carries strength, rootedness, and transformation. In this context, botanicals reclaim traditionally feminine associations with nature, redefining them as sources of depth and resilience.
Colour as Psychological Signal
Colour plays a crucial role in shaping this aesthetic. Velvet blacks create mystery without erasing presence, while glowing reds and pinks imply emotional heat rather than danger. Lunar blues and silvery shadows evoke intuition and liminality, drawing the viewer into reflective quiet. The chromatic palette becomes a psychological signal system, guiding emotional interpretation. Instead of highlighting threat, colour reveals inner states and symbolic meaning.
Texture as Liminal Threshold
Grain and haze create the feeling of crossing between realities. The texture suggests that the portrait exists in a space between waking and dreaming, conscious and subconscious. This liminality resonates with the feminine uncanny, where clarity and ambiguity coexist. Smooth, glowing areas invite intimacy, while soft noise introduces distance. The viewer feels both drawn in and held at the edge, mirroring emotional complexity.
Rewriting the Giallo Tradition
By bringing a feminine perspective into a historically male-directed aesthetic, I rewrite the underlying dynamics. The figure is no longer observed as an object of suspense; she becomes the source of suspense. Her interiority is the mystery. The uncanny emerges from her autonomy, not her vulnerability. This inversion creates a shift in power, transforming the viewer’s experience into one of respectful curiosity rather than consumption.
Why This Aesthetic Resonates
I continue to explore the feminine uncanny within giallo-inspired work because it reflects how many people experience emotion today—layered, symbolic, introspective, and quietly intense. It offers darkness without cruelty, softness without fragility, and beauty that invites engagement rather than objectification. On the wall, these artworks become companions in emotional reflection, holding space for complexity and subtle transformation.
