Artist Statement

I have a passion to do personal photography projects about everyday issues with a compelling point of view. I tell stories, freeze time, explore moods and reconstruct experiences with images. Photography gives me a way to contemplate the complexity of life and explore new possibilities. My images are often inspired by real experiences or personal notes from life that I transfer into a new, fictional scene. Staging gives me the opportunity to see the scene from the outside and rewrite the rules of the event. I try to distill the emotional and physical pain – but also joy and understanding – that one goes through in life into a new essence with my own perspective. I’m interested in transformation and the counterbalance of fragility and strength.

I look for something whimsical and magical from the everyday. Very ordinary things and places that are obscure inspire me. I love the moment when something obvious translates into something surprising. In my experience the memory of a certain feeling can be very strong and can be felt physically. It flows in the body and may become a complex tangle and feel real. That’s why I’m interested in the space between real and unreal. I want to explore that mysterious zone where reality and fiction collide. I arrange a possibility and aim to capture a fraction of the result. That’s where the magic is hidden—between the inexplicable moments and imperceptible shades.

I understand feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. There are no guarantees in life. It is painful, yet liberating to accept changes and to move forward. In spite of the hardships of life and the disturbing daily news I am grateful just to exist on this planet. I appreciate time, the most precious thing one has, and sometimes it is important to appreciate that actually nothing happens. These feelings and discoveries become part of my imagery. Most experiences are invisible, but with my camera I can breathe life into the stories I want to see and into the moods I want to capture.

Photography has helped me to get back on my feet more than once. It is both a consolation and a passion. Most of my images are planned, yet there is space for freedom and spontaneity. To extend my vision, I build props by hand and use digital manipulation with purpose. This allows me to highlight a story, a thought or a mood that otherwise wouldn’t be notable or couldn’t really happen. Healthy self-esteem and a vivid imagination are core assets in life that should never be taken for granted. Through images people may see themselves in a new light or play a character just for the sake of play. This is why I often work with children and youth. I want to show another point of view, something that could otherwise stay hidden.

In my personal work I try to find a balance between heavy and light, fear and courage, weakness and strength, failure and success. I believe that big things often happen on a small scale, but they can be significantly life-changing. Photography is the medium that lets me continually discover new tones from life and appreciate humanity in its deepest sense.