March '13 // ISSP // Contemporary Self-portraits project

One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I had as an artist and educator was to facilitate a group of ladies in Bolderaga, Latvia. For almost a week we re-discovered and re-invented the idea of self-portrait, storytelling, family albums, memories and myths. It was a truly inspiring process for me and the participants proving that the idea of narrative lies at the heart of human existence.

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This workshop is part of a bigger project that ISSP is involved:

Contemporary Self-Portraits and Portraits

September 2012 – August 2014

The Contemporary Self-Portraits Project focuses on individuals and local communities in four European regions: Finland (Turku), Estonia (Tallinn), Ireland (Dublin), Latvia (Riga) and Sweden (Umeå). The project aims to give local inhabitants a voice in expressing their personal and collective identity through self-portraits created at a series of assisted self-portrait workshops in and around the project locations. The self-portrait processes will contribute to creating a picture of a local European identity as well as encourage the development and sharing of communal art methodology and community development through arts. The results will be presented at exhibitions in each partner country and a Final Symposium in Umea in 2014, as well as in a printed project publication.

In Riga, at least six assisted self-portrait workshops will be held within three selected suburban areas: Bolderāja, Āgenskalns and Ķengarags. The first series of workshops will be led in late 2012 - early 2013 by invited foreign experts, while local artists will hold follow-up workshops in each of the suburbs in 2013. Both local and visiting artists-photographers will be invited to create their own series of inhabitants’ portraits in the project area they are working in.

ISSP 2013 will host a project workshop by Elina Brotherus; two students per partner-organisation will take part.

The presentation of the project results will be part of the Riga EU Capital of Culture 2014 programme, and will be realized in cooperation with Foundation Riga 2014. An extensive exhibition is planned in summer 2014, combining both the self-portraits and portraits of Riga’s inhabitants, as well as non-traditional presentations and events in the project suburbs. Additionally, Argentinean photographer Marcos Lopez will visit Riga for an artistic residency, creating portraits of the suburban population in his unique and colorful pop-latino style.

The partners of the CSP project are Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Estonian Academy of Arts, the National College of Art and Design (Ireland), ISSP (Latvia) and Bildmuseet of Umeå University(Sweden). 

The project is funded by the EU Culture Programme and Foundation Riga 2014.

(c) Hertta Kiiski, Una, 2010

Feb-Mar'13 // Das Fenster

Here are a couple of stills from the new music video I shot for Das Fenster.
Eva Katharina, looking gorgeous as usual! I can also tell you that the lyrics and the music are gorgeous too...

You can see and listen to it online at Das Fenster Youtube channel

Jan'13 // Chania Photography Workshop

I just came back to Brighton from Chania, my hometown.

During my stay in Chania I met some really talented eyes from the photography club ΛΕΦΚΙ.

My workshop on Subjective Photography inspired my new learners and hopefully it will help them focus on their personal projects. I now have my Year 1's and my Year 2's. They call me "teacher". It seems that we are creating a "photography college" where creativity, imagination and emotions are intermixed.

Here is to more meetings and brainstorming moments. Thank you all, you are amazing...

editing amazing photos...

some of my Year 2's.

editing more amazing photos

and more editing with Year 2's. All amazing! 

Cyclic, as usual...

My Year 1's...

me, between darkness and light. Photo taken by Nikos Kampianakis

Nov'12 // Prince's Trust

I was invited to deliver a 3 hour workshop at Prince's Trust here in the South of UK. I had a very good time with the group and very positive feedback from the attendants and the team leader. Here is for more workshops, more sharing, more inspiring stories to be told!

Nov'12 // Life After Law...

In November I was invited by Escape the City to give a talk about my own experience of leaving law. We were actually 6 speakers, all really happy for following our dreams. I think we inspired the audience...

You can see me explaining my own adventures in this video after the 45.34 

Here is the slide showing my daily routine: 

Remember what Tarkovsky said: An artist never works under ideal conditions...

Oct '12 // Daido Moriyama print show in TATE Modern, London

He is a genius, a living legend of Japanese and international photography and an innovative photo-book maker: DAIDO Moriyama (b.1938).

I was thrilled to participate in the MENU printing show which was held in TATE Modern, London, on the 14th of October. Each participant edited and sequenced their own copy, which was then stable-bounded with a silk screen cover (silver or blue), and signed by Daido Moriyama.

Such a special day for me, the photo-book lover...

Thank you Daido for your generosity and your inspiring idea!

Sept'12 // My teaching blog

I started a new blog
it's called philopraxia from the Greek words philos (φίλος) = friend and praxis (πράξη)=action
and is dedicated to my teaching and workshops in the UK, Greece and Turkey. 

Here is some amazing artwork from my previous students Danai and Ludy: