Angelika Kollin | An Exclusive Interview

An Exclusive Interview With
Angelika Kollin
By Ariel SU

3 Projects:
You Are My Mother/Father
Everyday Saints
Hold me till I go

“Photography is a conduit that allows me to reveal the divine presence surrounding us, often hidden in plain sight. Through this medium, I aim to reveal both the eternal and the invisible to those contemplating my work.”
-Angelika Kollin

Angelika Kollin (b. 1976) is an Estonian Fine Art/Documentary photographer currently residing in Tampa, USA. She is a self-taught artist completing the Academy Fotografika 1.5 yearlong online documentary photography course in 2023. Angelika passionately engages with photography and art as a means to explore interhuman connections and intimacy. Her work is driven by a lifelong yearning to understand and gain a deeper perspective on human loneliness and suffering and faith’s role in overcoming these challenges. Angelika’s photography is characterized by its honesty and unapologetic directness, which she skillfully balances with an aura of intimate emotions and gracious dignity.
During her eight years living in African countries such as Ghana, Namibia, and South Africa, Angelika delved into the same themes within different cultures and economic conditions, adding rich diversity to her body of work. Currently, she is working on two ongoing projects titled “You Are My Mother/Father” and “Mary’s Children.”
Angelika’s dedication has gathered recognition from prestigious organizations and competitions. She has received accolades such as the Best in Competition 2023 from FMoPA, 1st prize winner (2020) and finalist (2022) from Lensculture, 1st Place from BIFA (2021), finalist from Lucie Foundation (2020), and finalist from PHMuseum (2020), among others. Her work has been published in renowned outlets, including CNN, The Guardian, the Greif, Scientific American, Musée Magazine, PhotoVogue, and F-Stop Magazine.

In addition to publications, Angelika’s work has been exhibited at various esteemed venues and festivals worldwide. Her photography has been showcased at the Helsinki Foto Festival, a group exhibition organized by Lensculture in New York, a solo show in Cape Town, the OFF Foto Festival in Bratislava, the FotoNostrum gallery in Barcelona, and The International Photographer group exhibition in Berlin, among others.

“The “You Are My Mother” project is full of sweetness, nostalgia, and imagination, softening my personality and opening up a greater capacity for vulnerability and trust. It catalyzed personal growth, unlocking understanding and emotional depths I had not yet explored.”

An Exclusive Interview With
Angelika Kollin
By Ariel SU

Ariel SU: It’s a pleasure interviewing you, Angelika. Through viewing your projects, I’ve noticed that the connection to your work was immediate; I was surprised to discover how evocative and thought-provoking your work is. You manage to express deep emotions and sensitivity through your work. Your work focuses mainly on human relationships, love and lack of love, age, aging, and death. Where does the need to focus on these issues come from?
Is this a way of self-exploration and self-understanding?

Angelika Kollin: Contemplating the deeper aspects of life is a universal endeavor. I recall pondering the vastness of existence even in my childhood, sensing the triviality of my being in the face of its infinitude. As we mature, life’s complexities begin to unravel before us, often sparked by significant events. This innate inclination to seek answers to age-old questions led me to embrace spirituality as a way of life.

My artistic journey is intrinsically intertwined with my quest for the meaning and purpose of life. Rather than actively seeking specific subjects to photograph, I remain receptive to the ones I unintentionally meet and those that intersect with my personal experiences and awareness. I’m not on a quest for more photographs; instead, I seek answers and uncover many of my clues within the portraits I create.
I firmly believe that genuine self-understanding can only be attained through self-exploration. Without it, we risk living our lives confined by the beliefs of others, haunted by old wounds, and trapped by obsolete misconceptions. Therefore, in my view, it is imperative to scrutinize every aspect of our existence and assess the value it holds for us. My artistic practice serves as my conduit for this exploration and understanding.

Ariel SU: As an international award photographer with countless Solo and Group exhibitions on your resume, how did it all start? Did you grow up in an artistic environment? What drew you to photography, and what is your photography background?

Angelika Kollin: In stark contrast to an artistic upbringing, my early years could be characterized as anything but nurturing and wholesome by today’s standards. Remarkably, this backdrop would ultimately become the fertile soil and driving force behind my creativity and artistic voice in my adult life.
At some point during my adulthood, I found myself confronted with the pressing need to face and address old traumatic memories. The compulsion to express myself, which for me manifested through photography, surged with such intensity and depth that everything else seemed to fall into place naturally.

I had no formal training or education in photography until recently (1.5 years ago); I simply gave my all to creating portraits that resonated with a sense of harmony and inner peace I was instinctively seeking. This inner void, this unspoken yearning, became my silent photography mentor, persistently guiding me toward topics that I needed to explore the most: themes of intimacy, parental love, a sense of belonging, and trust.

Ariel SU: You title yourself as a Fine Art Documentary photographer. Going through your earliest projects on your website (such as “Return to Innocence” and “Departure”), I can see an evolution during the years, from focusing mainly on the visual (Fine Art) to creating a perfect balance between putting the attention on the visual to the philosophical idea behind the image. Did you intentionally work on this development, or did it come naturally?

Angelika Kollin: Indeed, it’s an interesting observation, and I entirely agree. I’m very aware of this ongoing transformation within myself. The driving forces behind this continuous evolution primarily encompass two key elements: an uncompromising commitment to examining and intentionally venturing beyond the confines of my comfort zone, as well as placing trust in the exploration of the deeper recesses of emotions and the complex themes into which they spill.

Ariel SU: Let’s discuss your latest project, “You Are My Mother/Father”. This project gained a beautiful success in international awards and exhibitions. What led you to focus on the intimate relationship between a mother and her children? Where did the idea come from?

Angelika Kollin: Like most of my projects, “You Are My Mother” began intuitively, devoid of a structured plan or preconceived idea. Creating portraits in this manner is an organic and unrestricted process, but make no mistake; it demands your unwavering presence with every fiber of your being. It was only after photographing a succession of women with their children, much to my astonishment and perhaps unease, that I became acutely aware of the pressing need to confront my deepest and most uncomfortable wound – my own relationship with my mother. It was an undeniable moment of realization, an epiphany that left no room for evasion. When you know, you know. And so, I plunged headfirst into this exploration, firmly trusting that, much like my previous work, it would eventually guide me to the answers I sought. The unfolding of this work was a revelation in itself.
This, in many senses, autobiographical project delves into the intricate and profound bond shared between a mother and child. It probes the question of how our relationships with our mothers sculpt us as adults, challenging us to embrace our mothers for who they authentically are rather than who we may wish them to be. “You Are My Mother” encourages the audience to embark on a journey of introspection and meditation, delving into the wellspring of emotional intimacy between these pivotal figures. It serves as a tender and intimate contemplation of the profound influence of motherhood in our lives, prompting us to reflect on our personal experiences and the role our mothers have played in shaping the individuals we’ve become.
By capturing the portraits of “others,” I inadvertently constructed a sanctuary within these photographs—a place where I could observe and scrutinize from a comfortable distance. It was an endeavor that led to profound self-discovery and certainly aided me in untangling many of the old knots and ties that had bound me.

Ariel SU: What can you tell us regarding choosing the figures for your project? Are the figures in this project related to you in a personal connection? Did you decide to photograph them because of their personal stories?

Angelika Kollin: Initially, the individuals involved in this project were predominantly drawn from my immediate circle of friends. However, as the project progressed, it gradually expanded far beyond those familiar faces to the extent that I found myself photographing individuals who, at times, by definition, were complete strangers. What is frankly remarkable, though, is that regardless of the level of prior connection, there existed an immediate and natural recognition of a profound, though unspoken, bond during the portrait sessions.
I hold a solid conviction that we never photograph random people or places. If we take the time to slow down and engage in introspection with honesty and patience, we will inevitably become attuned to the underlying common threads that connect us all.

Because my work is never bound to a specific idea or rule, I operate without constraints. More often than not, I photograph individuals guided solely by an innate sense that they are meant to be the protagonists of my next portrait. Occasionally, I’m drawn to photograph someone based on their narrative. However, I consciously attempt to shift my focus away from the narrative itself and instead aim to forge a connection with the individual, one that transcends beliefs and stories.I describe this connection as tapping into another person’s essence—an encounter with their Divinity, which, in my perspective, is a shared attribute inherent in all of us.

Ariel SU: In your beautiful project “Everyday Saints,” you created portraits of domestic workers from Cape Town as holy figures. What is the true meaning and the philosophical aspect behind this project? Is there an attempt to bring forward the personal stories of the black-African American society?

Angelika Kollin: It’s intriguing how a single portrait can convey a clear, defined message while simultaneously being rooted in numerous symbols and intertwined messages. Such richness is densely packed into the series of photographs I’ve named “Everyday Saints.”

In essence, I aim to convey that we often direct our praise and admiration toward the wrong idols in our modern era. Every day, we cross paths with people we may not acknowledge or notice, yet these unsung heroes and heroines lead lives of quiet yet profound dedication to service and kindness to others. However, beneath this unmistakable message lies a tapestry of deeper meanings. It speaks volumes about the pervasive issues of inequalities, immigration, and discrimination faced by women, especially aging women, in their pursuit of employment. These are not isolated issues confined to a single community or location; sadly, they are shared narratives spanning nearly every corner of our planet.
Equally important to me is not portraying my protagonists as victims or disadvantaged individuals. That is not how I perceive them, despite being fully aware of the hardships they’ve endured and the daily struggles they face. What truly captivates me is the remarkable beauty of their character’s strength, their unwavering faith, and the resilience of the human spirit they embody with such grace and honor.
I have deep admiration for their ability to carry this potent message throughout their challenging lives, and it is this very message that I aspire to share with a broader audience.

Ariel SU: Do you have one individual personal story of one of the figures to share with us?

Angelika Kollin: I would like to speak about Everyday Saint Lucy, and I want to add a bit of my personal story, which will help to understand the forces that influence one’s art (feel free to remove irrelevant parts).
At 14, I faced the stark reality of immigration. In 1991, my family embarked on a journey from post-Soviet Estonia to Germany, fueled by the pursuit of a brighter future.
Over nearly 35 years of traversing the globe, I’ve yet to encounter an immigrant willingly leaving their homeland if they had the option of a decent, secure life there. I witnessed my father’s tearful days, watched my mother transition from working as a programmer to a domestic worker in wealthy households, and shared the collective sorrow for the home we left behind, yearning for a sense of belonging.
As an artist, I’ve always held a special place for immigrants in my work. I deeply empathize with their sense of displacement and relentless determination to uncover silver linings amidst hardship. I highly regard their sacrifices, hope, and unwavering faith in securing a better future for the generations that follow.

During my photographic meeting with Lucy, a Malawian immigrant and day laborer in the affluent suburbs of Cape Town, these thoughts were at the forefront of my mind, shaping our conversation. Like countless immigrants, Lucy was compelled to depart her homeland to provide sustenance for herself and her sizable family. This is no small feat, given her daily reality of receiving meager wages, enduring gender-based harassment, and verbal assaults due to her foreign status, and confronting the challenge of securing employment as an older woman. Each morning, Lucy would stand at the road intersection, clad in her best attire, hopeful of earning a small income.
Every facet of her struggle was etched on her weathered yet graceful face. What struck me most deeply was the presence of something far more profound and unwavering. Whether it be called hope, faith, or inner strength that transcends words, its powerful aura enveloped this fragile yet strong woman, radiating from her very being. In our initial exchange of words, it became apparent how apprehensive Lucy was about disclosing her age. In her daily life, this seemingly innocuous detail posed a genuine threat to her earning potential and, consequently, her survival. At that point, Lucy was 52 years old. I vividly remember being deeply affected by this revelation, pondering how it could be that any woman should be made to feel this way simply because her surroundings deemed her age unworthy of employment.
These thoughts continued to occupy my mind years later. I’ve come to recognize the profound significance of producing more work centered around the concept of age and our collective societal perspective on it. Ideally, this will contribute to the ongoing transformation of the persistent, outdated, and harmful narrative.

Ariel SU: From your extensive experience as a fine art photographer, what would be your advice for the beginner photographer trying to find his way in the field?

Angelika Kollin: Avoid the pursuit of accumulating more images; we already possess an abundance of them. Instead, aspire to be an artist who genuinely cares about the individuals before their lens and arrives to engage with and understand them. Strive to make them feel truly seen, to convey that someone cares about their presence and existence. To photograph light, you first need to witness it in another person and equally share yours. You’ll be rewarded with the most exquisite moments when you approach people with genuine and authentic intentions. Furthermore, ask yourself many WHYs – why are you drawn to this particular person, why do you want to photograph this specific landscape or object, why do you feel what you feel? These introspective questions will guide your creative journey toward a deeper and more meaningful connection with your subjects and the world around you.

Ariel SU: Checking a bit about your upcoming scheduled exhibitions, I found your participation in NFT group exhibitions. What is your impression of this evolving field? Did you gain success in these group exhibitions?

Angelika Kollin: My journey within the NFT community has been remarkably positive. Back in mid-2022, I hesitated to venture into this space, given its steep learning curve and inherent unpredictability. Yet, I’m grateful that I took the plunge. Joining this vibrant community introduced me to exceptional new artists, offered a glimpse into some of the most supportive and pioneering creative circles, and revealed a wealth of new opportunities.
I believe that this represents the future of art, making it beneficial and practical to acquaint oneself with it sooner rather than later. Additionally, like any new experience, it provides ample room for growth and learning, both of which are integral to our artistic evolution. Of course, each artist must ultimately chart their own path, as only they know what resonates most with them. Nonetheless, I would encourage artists to consider exploring the basics of NFTs, enabling them to make informed decisions about this innovative realm.

Ariel SU: What does the future hold? Are you working on a new project? Do you have any scheduled upcoming exhibitions?

Angelika Kollin: While the future remains uncertain, I firmly believe in our ability to influence and shape it to some extent. It’s essential, though, to leave room for the unpredictable and the unknown. Recently, I’ve been feeling
a profound pull towards working more with the topic of death. This direction resonates strongly with me. I recognize the significance of such work, even if it offers insights and solace solely to those who entrust me with photographing their most poignant life event.
Exploring the approach to one’s final days is of utmost importance to me. It feels like a place where I can bring together my lifelong spiritual search, passion for poetry, fascination with the human story, and love for art.
On the topic of exhibitions, I’m excited to announce my upcoming personal exhibition at FMoPA (Florida Museum of Photographic Arts) in Tampa, commencing on November 1, 2023. The museum, situated in the historic Ybor district, is a truly remarkable venue and well worth visiting.

See the full interview article in Lens Magazine Issue #108