Alice in Waterland by Elena Kalis

Words by Apostolos Mitsios

8 September 2009

Alice in Waterland by Elena Kalis

Words by Apostolos Mitsios

8 September 2009

What if Alice, after endlessly falling down the Rabbit Hole, ended up in the ocean? And what if that ocean surrounded a small island in the Bahamas? Although it may sound surreal, visual artist Elena Kalis has reimagined the classic Alice in Wonderland tale with an underwater twist, transforming it into Alice in Waterland. Born in Russia, Kalis specializes in underwater photography and has been living in the Bahamas for the past ten years. For this enchanting new version of the story, she cast her own daughter as Alice, creating a series of breathtaking images that capture the magic and whimsy of the original tale, while taking it to new, uncharted depths.

Caught between the elegance of a mermaid and the resilience of a shipwreck survivor, this new Alice is a vision of beauty suspended between fantasy and reality. Yatzer invites you to dive with us into this hidden, otherworldly realm and discover the story behind Elena Kalis’s work in the following interview.

photo © Elena Kalis

Elena, how did you decide to experiment with underwater photography?
I live surrounded by water and spend a lot of time in it, so it was a natural thing to do.

You’ve been living on a small island in the Bahamas for the past ten years. How has this influenced your art?
In every way—people, traditions, nature… Everything I do is connected to it.

What are the main challenges of working underwater?
Nothing works the same way underwater as it does on land—it’s like being in another dimension. But that’s exactly what makes it so interesting!

What is it about Alice in Wonderland that people find so captivating, and how did you decide to create your own version?
Alice in Wonderland is timeless. It’s open to interpretation, and everyone can make it their own. I decided to create my version for a few reasons: it’s my all-time favorite book, my daughter Sacha is the same age as Alice (10) and is an excellent underwater model, and the story itself feels like it’s from some lucid, otherworldly place—underwater, perhaps?

photo © Elena Kalis

What inspires you on a daily basis?
The ocean. It’s never the same—it changes every second—and yet it holds a sense of majesty and permanence. I find it both humbling and inspiring.

You come from Russia, a country rich in fairy tale traditions. How does that influence your work?
I was born in Moscow, and my favorite tales were by the Brothers Grimm, a collection from all over Europe. That has probably influenced my work.

You often use your kids and friends as models. What’s the funniest thing that has happened during a shoot?
It’s always fun! I can’t pick one specific event. Since I’m not working under client or gallery obligations, we’re just playing. That’s why I often include balloons and toys in my shoots—they’re there purely for fun!

What are your future plans?
I’ve been working on underwater photography for about a year now, and I’m still fascinated by it. There are so many aspects I haven’t even begun to explore. The Alice project isn’t over yet—it’s only been a few months since I started, and there’s still so much to do.