The images in this series called Alter Ego are portrait of young girls, tourists from China, who at dawn, in the caldera of Ijen volcano, in Java, Indonesia, pose for photographs with their gas masks, protective goggles, designer nails, and extravagant outfits, which contrast with the almost Martian landscape of the volcano's caldera, the crater lake, and the smoke that envelops everything.

   The term alter ego, which literally means "the other me" in Latin, is one of those expressions that has transcend its origin to become a fundamental tool in both literature and psychology. From its appearance in classical texts to its contemporary use, the alter ego has been a way to explore human duality, the multiple facets of identity, and the complexities of being. 

   The term comes from the Latin words alter {"other"} and ego {"I"}. Its first documented appearance is attributed to the Roman philosopher Lucius Annaneus Seneca, who popularized the phrase "Amicus est alter ego" {"a friend is another self"} in the 1st century AD, drawing from an aphorism by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras of Samos. Originally, this expression referred to friendship as a reflection of oneself, an idea that emphasized trust and mutual identification between friends. 

   In the 18th century, the German doctor and philosopher Franz Anton Mesmer used the term in his research on hypnosis to describe the alternate personalities that emerged during trances. Later, in the 19th century, the concept was incorporated into the field of psychology to study dissociative identity disorders and split personalities. 

   In literature, the alter ego has been used to explore the complexities of human beings. It's common to find it in fictional characters that represent repressed or idealized aspects of the author.

   The concept of alter ego is still relevant not only in literature, but also in other artistic and cultural disciplines. 

   In psychological term, creating an alter ego can be a therapeutic tool to overcome insecurities or explore repressed aspects of the personality. This approach reinforces the idea that we all inhabit multiple identities in different contexts.

   The alter ego is much more than a literally or psychological tool; it's a window into the multiple dimensions of the human being. This concept has proved to be a powerful tool for understanding ourselves and the world around us.