EXISTOS:
A Conceptual Photography Project by Albert Pocej
A critical response to digital ephemerality through the creation of unique, irreproducible photographic artifacts.
Project Abstract
EXISTOS is an ongoing conceptual photography project and performance by Lithuanian artist Albert Pocej. It directly confronts the hyper-production and devaluation of digital images in contemporary culture. Each participant engages in a ritualistic experience resulting in a single photograph (one shutter click) and one physical print.
Critically, all digital information is physically destroyed by participant, rendering the print a unique, non-reproducible artifact. The project merges portraiture and performance art, elevating the value of the physical object, the artist-subject relationship, and the finality of the moment.
The Process as Performance
The EXISTOS methodology is integral to the artwork’s conceptual framework. Each element is a deliberate artistic choice:
The Single Shutter Act:
A commitment to intuition over technical perfection. It restores weight and finality to the creative process, forcing a focus on the decisive moment to capture an authentic state of being that is unrepeatable and final.
Subject as Co-Author:
The participant is not a passive model but an active collaborator. By bringing a personal object imbued with their own story, they become a co-author of the final piece, infusing the artifact with a unique and intimate narrative.
On-Site Materialization:
Printing and framing in the chosen location transforms the process into a self-contained creative act, bridging an ephemeral moment to a tangible artifact with guaranteed archival permanence.
The Ritual of Destruction:
The physical annihilation of the SD card is the project's conceptual climax. It is a performative act that bestows the final print with its ultimate value: absolute singularity.
Artistic Vision: From "Content" to Artifact
“In a world saturated with ‘content,’ designed for fleeting attention and algorithmic approval, the very essence of art is at risk…
The project is a conscious rejection of what filmmaker Peter Watkins termed the ‘monoform’—the standardized, fast-paced, emotionally manipulative narrative that now dominates our feeds…
AI will soon master the creation of content, making it ubiquitous and valueless. In this future, the true value will lie in what a machine can never replicate: authentic human experience, intention, and the vulnerable act of creating something singular…
EXISTOS is built on this philosophy. It is an act of creating a real artifact in a synthetic world.”
Partnerships & Technical Excellence
The technical integrity of each EXISTOS artifact is ensured through strategic partnerships with world-renowned brands.
FUJIFILM: Providing the camera technology to capture the one, decisive moment with exceptional quality.
EPSON: Ensuring each unique print meets the highest archival standards through their leading printing technology and pigments.
Press, Acquisitions, and Collaboration
EXISTOS is an ongoing project with planned international residencies and the long-term goal of an exhibition based on its documentation. We welcome inquiries from the press, collectors, galleries, and potential strategic partners who align with the project’s vision.
For all inquiries, please contact:
Albert Pocej
email: albert@pocej.com
instagram: @albertpocej
F.A.Q. - The EXISTOS Project
The participant purchases the sole physical artifact (the print). The artist, Albert Pocej, retains the copyright to the image. The owner is contractually prohibited from creating commercial reproductions. The artist will never reproduce the image, ensuring it remains a unique 1/1 edition.
The project as a whole—the process, locations, and artist’s journey—is documented via “behind-the-scenes” photography and film. This documentation deliberately excludes any high-resolution digital file of a participant’s final portrait, thus preserving the core principle of singularity for each artwork.
The value is based on several factors: the artwork’s guaranteed 1/1 singularity, the conceptual strength of the project, the artist’s growing international reputation, and the high-quality archival materials used. Pricing is dynamic and reflects the project’s evolving status in the art market.
Yes. We are actively seeking gallery representation and are developing an exhibition concept based on the project’s extensive documentation. We welcome inquiries from curators and cultural institutions. Please use the contact information provided.
Partners are carefully selected based on a shared commitment to quality, authenticity, and artistic integrity. We collaborate with industry leaders (like FUJIFILM and EPSON) whose brands enhance the project’s technical excellence and conceptual vision, rather than simply commercializing it.
The Press Kit contains the project’s official abstract, the artist’s bio and statement, high-resolution images of the process and selected locations (non-portrait), partner information, and past press coverage.
