India-born Vikram Kushwah (b. 1983) now lives in England where he practises as a fine art and fashion photographer, working for the likes of Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, and producing images that illustrate the complexities of the subconscious. Kushwah is deeply influenced by the Surrealists, the Freudian theory of The Uncanny, and fantastical childhood stories such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Both his personal and commercial series offer an alternative sense of time and place, self-consciously reflecting on the ways in which daydreams can merge with reality. This is translated into playful, meticulously-staged compositions that carry an imaginative thirst for creativity and a desire to inject a sense of visionary freedom. A previous Aesthetica Art Prize longlistee, Kushwah has been recognised widely, including being featured in Vogue Italia amongst their New Talents in 2012 and winning a Young Lions Award at Cannes in 2013. www.vikramkushwah.com.