Молва (Molva)
The project Молва (Molva) explores the interrelation between photography and linguistics by visualising a list of catchphrases from the Russian-speaking community I grew up in. Depending on the desired context, these word combinations may be unique or not have an equivalent in other cultures. Based on such intricacies of communication and translation, one can determine the cultural background of an individual. This project involves people from different countries who are united by their ability to speak and understand the Russian language, respectively. My participants can feel the atmosphere and appreciate the nuances of these forms of communication. How people express themselves verbally can throw the specificity of nationality into relief when attempting to illustrate metaphors that are unique to certain cultures. Combining portraiture and still life compositions, and supplemented with elements of photomontage, Молва (Molva) revels in the absurdity and the eloquence of language.
