METU Photography Graduate Shortlisted for Paris Photo Carte Blanche Students 2025

Emma Varga, a graduate of the BA in Photography at Budapest Metropolitan University (METU), has been shortlisted for the prestigious Paris Photo Carte Blanche Students 2025 with her photobook VOX VICTIMAE.

Developed as her diploma project under the supervision of Péter Pettendi Szabó, Varga’s work investigates the mechanisms of victimhood. Through visual parallels between animals and human society, she explores how living beings become victims within systems of power and control. The book combines grotesque imagery, scientific elements, and artistic expression to question who decides the value of life and what happens to those deemed unworthy.

Varga highlights that her three years at METU were instrumental in shaping her artistic approach. The program taught her how to transform personal interests into conceptually strong, relevant works, while fostering an open and experimental mindset. She also credits the guidance of her supervisor and the critical discussions at METU for helping her refine both the visual and conceptual layers of her project.

By being shortlisted, Varga’s project gains visibility on an international stage, where it can spark dialogue about urgent ethical and philosophical questions. For her, this recognition is both an honor and a confirmation that art can confront difficult realities and challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us.