The French Institute of Estonia and The Goethe Institute of Tallinn are launching a joint residency project, bringing together two photographers, Louisa Marie from Germany and Camille Laurelli from France. During the residency artists will investigate sensitive issues in Estonia such as integration and freedom of speech. Their work is based on a personal contact with Estonians and Russians and explores the psychological and political borders separating Estonians and Russian-speaking Estonians.
Two case studies have been chosen: first, the city of Narva – in the far East of Estonia, where most inhabitants are native Russian-speakers and therefore more vulnerable to Russian politics. The residency continues in October in Tallinn, where the Russian-speaking community offers a similar perspective of observation. The photographers will explore how the former “enemies” have made contact, become allies and friends with the “locals”, while sharing the same city space.
The two artists’ collaboration will take place in September and October. The works created in Narva will be exhibited at the Estonian Photographic Art Fair in Tallinn. The exhibition Walks alongside Borders, based on their residency, will be opened at the Tallinn Photo Museum on October 19th, 2016.
The residency is a shared project between the French Institute and the Goethe Institute, and is funded by the French-German Cultural Fund.
