Gomma Photography Grant 2021
Birch man
Photographer
Yanina Boldyreva
Birch man
31 Jan, 2022
I took the birch symbol as a basis for my project, like one of the main ones in Russian identity. Through him, I want to reveal different sides of the current mythology of the new Russian time, connected in one way or another with the concept of patriotism, militarism, and the image of Russia created under the influence of official Putin propaganda, as well as social and existential issues. Birch man is flesh and blood of a birch forest. His life is quiet and mysterious. Perhaps this is an ordinary person, like you and me, but turned by an evil witch into a creature rooted in forest soil, overgrown with bark, heritage of ancestors and patriotism. It is known for certain that he is an autotroph, and it needs very few resources to survive, therefore birch people live for a very long time, but this existence does not seem like full-fledged life. The project has just begun, but in the future it should contain several parts - installation, a series of public art objects, which are then documented, staged and documentary photographs, drawings, texts, the artist's book.
About the photographer
Yanina Boldyreva
Yanina Boldyreva was born in 1986 in Novosibirsk, Russia. 2003-2009 graduated from Novosibirsk State Academy of Architecture and Fine Arts (NSAAFA) as a mural-artist. Since 2007 she has worked as a photographer and digital artist. For a long time Yanina has been building her career both as a photographer and as a muralist. Therefore, she has the main awards in the field of photography. She has been a member of the Union of Photo Artists of Russia since 2013. Currently she is an independent multimedia artist. Combines work in project photography, street art and public art (muralism). Also Yanina engaged in the creation of photo books, easel graphics, and video art. Yanina is a permanent participant of international photo festivals (Off_festival, Encontros de imagen, Riga Photomonth festival), etc. her photo projects were shown in Siberia, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Europe, America. Latest photography awards for 2021: 2021MoS PhotoPrize 1st place 2021 Laureate in the nomination "Photobook", Photo Contest and Festival of Young Photographers in Russia -2021 2020 Jury's Choice Prize, Photo Contest and Festival of Young Photographers in Russia-2020 2019 MoS PhotoPrize finalist 2018 first place in the competition "Originally from Siberia", NCCA 2017 Photobook award, Moscow, Russia, shortlist 2016 Arles Cosmos PDF award, Paris, France, shortlist
