Dolly's Diner

Inspired by a visit to the Amy Winehouse exhibition in London, a series idea took root. In Amy's private journal, a teenage dream of hers surfaced - to own a 1950s-style diner reminiscent of the one in American Graffiti, which she'd have named Dolly's Diner.

Meet Irene, a character whose Hollywood journey spins a sadly conventional tale. She came to Hollywood for a fresh start and success but ended up waitressing in a local diner. She soon realized that the journey wasn't lonely. Her past, struggles, and pain are always there. Before she knew it, she was back where she started, stuck in a life she didn't want.

This series talks about the Hollywood dream, shedding light on the place where dreams often break. In an industry run by men, it shows the challenges faced by those who dare to dream.

Dolly's Diner also speaks out against the prevalence of sexual abuse, widely known in the film industry. Hollywoodland, the place where dreams are made and broken, works as a metaphor for the difficulties that women still face in our modern world.

About "The Other"

Elisa Miller's body of work, "The Other", poses questions of identity and invites us to consider the limited possibilities of expressing one's true self. Limitations that we can feel due to society, our domestic situation, or even us. The modern world is still a difficult place for women, alas.

Taking inspiration from the famous quote of French author Jean-Paul Sartre "Hell is other people", these staged photos explore our self-limiting beliefs and our desire to fit in, and the gap between our true selves and what we are expected to be.

Miller invites us to imagine what it might feel like if we were able to express freely without fear of judgment or condemnation, to look beyond the boundaries we've set for ourselves and have the courage to become who we really are.

What if hell isn't actually other people - but the things we do to ourselves?