In touch me, Alina Cherubin turns her lens on people’s homes, and captures the expression of femininity in its multifaceted forms across the world. Through intimate portraits, she explores the delicate boundaries between the private and public, the home and the body as a home.

In the tradition of portrait photography of strangers, Alina Cherubin uses her camera as a passkey, granting her access to the personal and private spaces of her subjects. Entering people’s homes is not just entering their physical environment, but also having access to the quiet, hidden stories that reside within them. Each person she met through this project left a long-lasting impression on the artist, which she documents in her diary. Her photographs then present two homes: the house, and the self.

First and foremost, the house. With a bed as a center piece and photographs printed directly onto the walls, much like posters, the immersive setup invites visitors to experience the feeling of intimacy firsthand. It also evokes the sense of closeness and vulnerability tied to youth culture. The way we decorate a room is a reflection and a visual expression of our inner self. Each object, color, and arrangement carry personal meaning, revealing how we see ourselves and the world around us. The choices we make in shaping our environment, whether it’s the comfort of soft fabrics, the vibrancy of a favorite color, the display of our favorite music band, or the nostalgia of cherished photos blue-tapped to the wall, serve as an extension of our identity.

Then, the self. Like a home, the body holds memories, carries stories, and offers comfort depending on the environment we create within it.  It is a place where we can seek refuge from the outside world, but also a site of transformation and expression. The body as a home also evokes a sense of belonging and self-possession. Despite its fragility and constant evolution, it is our only true property. As Indian-Irish poet Nikita Gill wrote “People are rivers, ever changing, ever flowing. They will disappear with everything you put in them. Still, your home does have a heartbeat. But it isn’t one locked in anyone else’s chest. Just look inside your own”.

However, the theme of “home” in Alina Cherubin’s work presents a captivating paradox: the exploration of personal and intimate spaces while constantly moving from country to country to capture them. From Mexico to Germany, the USA, France, and Italy, the artist leaves behind her roots, creating a home within herself as she pursues her artistic vision.

Alina Cherubin’s focus on femininity and intimacy within private spaces invites viewers to consider that travel is not only about geography but also about the subtle, often overlooked journey we undertake within ourselves. Her work speaks to a universal exploration of femininity, highlighting its fluidity, strength, and vulnerability. It captures the essence of what it means to be feminine, in all its forms and through every gender; and how our bodies, often perceived as sites of external scrutiny, are, in fact, deeply personal and sacred homes.

Louise des Places