MY
MY is the most intimate project by Gabriela Teplická, a long-term documentary portrait of her own family. The focus is not on idealization, but on authenticity as it unfolds in everyday life, in moments of joy as well as in times of crisis. The series is a tribute to those who shape our daily existence, to those closest to us whose stories are often overlooked precisely because of their familiarity.
Through years of observation and photographic documentation, the author comes to recognize the inner strength, fragility, and courage present within her loved ones. Each family member carries a powerful personal story. Photography becomes a way not only of witnessing these stories, but also of deepening gratitude for the ability to accompany them through life.
The project captures acts of quiet heroism: a son who grows and donates his hair to children undergoing cancer treatment; a daughter who chooses a radical haircut to express her strong and determined personality; a mother who, at seventy, cares for her sister with Down syndrome while raising her teenage grandson. Throughout the project, the author’s husband stands as a constant source of support. His strength and determination are honored in the opening of the book as a personal tribute.
MY is both an intimate confession and a social gesture, asking a simple yet profound question: How much heroism is hidden within those closest to us? The project culminated in the photobook MY, a material expression of respect, gratitude, and love for the people who inspire the author every day through their actions and presence.
Book
MY is an internationally awarded photobook by Gabriela Teplická, rooted in long-term documentary photography and intimate personal testimony. The book presents an authentic visual portrait of the artist’s own family, captured over several years with sensitivity, honesty, and deep respect. Rather than idealizing family life, MY reveals strength, fragility, care, and courage as they unfold in everyday moments.
The publication is conceived as a carefully crafted object. It features the same special hand-crafted binding as the photobook Circles, emphasizing materiality, tactility, and the physical experience of reading. The visual concept and book design was created by designer Veronika Bošková, whose approach transforms the book into a symbolic extension of its content.
The cover symbolism reflects the essence of the project. Gabriela Teplická appears here in all her roles: woman, wife, daughter, mother, and photographer. The circle becomes a central motif, connecting these roles and symbolizing her as a creator, the point where everything begins and ends. The circle on the cover is placed at the position of the human heart, underscoring the idea that just as the body cannot function without a heart, this book could not exist without the author’s devotion, perseverance, and love.
The red lines along the edge of the book, echoing the color of blood, connect the individual pages in the same way veins connect the human body, and blood binds members of a family. The book itself thus becomes an organism, held together by relationships, care, and shared history.
The photographic narrative is accompanied by an original text by Matuš Zajac, curator of photography, who reflects on the visual language of the project and its broader social significance. Together, image, text, and design form a cohesive whole that transforms private experience into a universal reflection.
MY is both an intimate confession and a social statement. It asks where we locate heroism and invites us to recognize it within our closest relationships. As a limited-edition publication, the book stands as a materialized gesture of gratitude, respect, and love, honoring those who quietly shape our lives every day.
Long-term Projects
my
circles
moment
