Fluid Borders
2023
These two large-scale cyanotype prints on cotton fabric were created with people who fled their countries because of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The blue one was developed during a residency at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle with Ukrainian women displaced by Russia’s invasion.The red piece was created in Estonian with two Russian artists who fled their country for safety. The blue print features non-native plants introduced to the UK; the red depicts invasive species found in Estonia.
Collaborating with both groups, we explored the idea of fluid borders—imagining fabric as river water, free from human constraints. While borders can offer protection, I’m drawn to the concept of rivers as boundaries where divisions dissolve. As someone from the Estonian-Russian border, shaped by a river, this project reflects my own sense of place. Using one of the oldest photographic techniques allowed us to physically engage with the process—humans and plants together creating a shared, welcoming space.