The Ekoi Bride, Nigeria. Self-portrait, 2005

The Bride King of Vicus (North of Peru, 1,800-1,300 years before present) with Gold Ear Ornaments (Quimbaya, Columbia, 1,000-800 years before present) and a Gold Pectoral (Muisca, Columbia, 2,100-1,900 years before present). Self-portrait, 2005

The Cowrie Bride, Yoruba. Self-portrait, 2005

The Silver Berber Bride, Morocco, early XXth Century. Self-portrait, 2005

Kimiko Yoshida is my favorite portrait artist.

Born and raised in Japan, she moved to France in 1995 and has been focusing on a mesmerizing series of selfportraits - more than 150 to date - dressed as brides of various cultures throughout history. She is an amazon warrior, she is an inca goddess clad with gold, she is an ancient african deity hiding behind a tribal mask... Her works are not selfportraits per se - the images are not about her, but rather portraits of different identities that create an universal, timeless persona. She is in her own world beyond cultures, time and space, and I love the textures of her simple yet complex images. She's my buddha of photography.