A bowlful of Kumis

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
Location:

Date

2023

Department

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

valo

Language

en

Pages

331

Series

Abstract

The thesis explores how documentary photography can be utilized as a means to navigate and intertwine personal, geopolitical, and mythological journeys, through a collection of visual stories created between 2013 and 2023 in Altai and Kyrgyzstan. The first and artistic component, contains six episodic tales. Each episode is introduced by a lyrical contextual text which is loosely connected to the themes and experiences grounded in the image-based stories. Each episode can be viewed as its' own story; all episodes represent one saga. The second literary section examines the concept of home. It explores and reflects on positioning within the photographer-subject dynamic from a practitioner's perspective in relation to identity. The research investigates the overlap in identity between post-communist and post-imperial spaces, within the personal context of the working father abroad. The third literary component delves into a reflective analysis of the methodologies employed in the photographic process. It underscores the importance of building rapport that transcends the transactional nature of the photographer-subject relationship. The analysis reflects on theories, techniques and approaches that highlight the value of empathy, understanding, and mutual respect in reciprocity of experience. The aim of the visual and written research, is to explore the connections between intertwining narratives, and highlight the importance of photography as a tool to document meaning and emotion in everyday life.

Description

Supervisor

Weber, Donald

Thesis advisor

Bruno, Sebastian

Keywords

documentary photography, portraiture, landscape, Altai Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, post-Soviet, everyday life

Other note

Citation