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The famous English film director Alfred Hitchcock wrote that the only way for him to get rid of his fears was to make a movie about them. The hero of our interview, photographer Nicolas Bruno, converts his terrifying experience of Sleep Paralysis into an image. He was born in 1993 and graduated from Purchase College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography. Nicolas Bruno lives and works in Northport, New York. From a young age, the photographer has regularly experienced episodes of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is a borderline condition between wakefulness and sleep in which the body is paralyzed and unable to move, but the brain is active, accompanied by panic and severe hallucinations. People suffering from sleep paralysis often see or feel someone else’s presence in their room. Visualizing through photography his experiences of sleep paralysis became a kind of therapy for Bruno. The macabre aesthetic of Nicolas Bruno’s photographs is heavily influenced by 19th century Romanticists, historical texts, occultism and dream symbolism. His horror surrealist photographs are characterized by a frightening atmosphere, a particular gloomy color palette and characters’ faces hidden under the fabric. This motif of faceless characters is obsessively repeated in his works, becoming a kind of signature element by which fans recognize his work. In 2020-2021, Nicolas Bruno created “The Somnia Tarot” photo project, an author’s interpretation of the classic Rider-Waite Tarot deck based on his creative and visual interpretations. The “Tarot of Somnia” is considered one of the most coveted decks among Tarot card collectors.
What prompted you to take on a photo project “The Somnia Tarot”?
During the pandemic, I recounted many of my life experiences involving my sleep disorder, my spirituality, and childhood upbringing. Being a self-employed artist, my future became uncertain as the world began to shift into lockdown. In my art studio, I recalled a childhood memory of visiting my grandmother’s home, where I was first exposed to Tarot. While exploring my grandma’s basement, I stumbled upon a Tarot deck that once belonged to my great-grandma, Yia-yia. The deck was hidden on a high shelf among antiques and old model trains. Because of superstition, I was forbidden to touch the cards, but I would secretly look through them when my grandma wasn’t looking. Superstitions and traditions were a big part of my life growing up in a Greek Orthodox family. Every time I held Yia-yia’s cards, I became more captivated by the interesting imagery within them. This childhood memory, along with frequent encounters with Tarot during my college years, gave me the inspiration to research the Tarot during the pandemic lockdown. While fully immersed in books and historical tarot decks, I became enthralled by the connections that each card’s symbolism had to my dream journal entries. Before I knew it, I had begun planning the architecture for what was to become The Somnia Tarot.
How did you approach the process of interpreting each Tarot card into a visual representation? Did you do any research on the history and symbolism of Tarot cards before embarking on this project?
Which Tarot card from the arcana collection resonated with you the most?
I have always resonated with The Hermit card from the Major Arcana. This card speaks of introspection, exploring visions from the subconscious, and entering solitude voluntarily to recount life experiences. During the conception of The Somnia Tarot, I often felt akin to The Hermit, as I would spend weeks in my studio pouring over old dream journals and books to plan the basis of the series. As a memento, I carried a copy of The Hermit card with me during the planning stages of The Somnia Tarot.
Did you discover any unexpected connections or revelations as you explored the arcana of the Tarot cards through your lens?
How do you think your interpretation of the arcana of the Tarot cards through photography provides a new perspective on this ancient system of divination?
There are 78 cards in the Tarot deck. This is a very large-scale project. How long did it take to realize it?
What kind of response or feedback have you received from the public? Have you received any criticism from people who practice tarot?
When you were only seven years old, you began to experience sleep paralysis. You have a series of photographic works related to this experience. Did the realization of this project help you to cope with the fear of sleep paralysis?
Please, tell us about your short film "The Fear Cycle" and the next photography project “Dream Submissions”.
The Fear Cycle short film encompasses my life experiences with Sleep Paralysis and using art as a therapy to overcome each nightmare. The film explores my artistic process, dream journal entries, as well as theatrical reproductions of each dream within a dark antique castle on Long Island, NY. The film was well received at international festivals and will soon be released on streaming services. For my Dream Submissions project, I am gearing up to recreate the nightmares of my patrons through my photography. My fans will be able to submit their own dreams, and if they are chosen, they will work directly with me to bring the dream to life through photography.
Name a work/works of any genre (book, film, poem) that has left a mark on you.
What would you like to achieve in your wildest dreams?
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