Artwork description:

NAVEL

This is a macro photo of a Cladonia Stellaris lichens with a raindrop in it, captured in the forest of Sweden in 2023.

Can you see the navel of the raindrop that is laying on the lichen's branches?
Navel is our source of life at the very beginning of our story.

Cladonia Stellaris lichens are the main food of the reindeer that my native people, the Chukchi, breed. And reindeer, in turn, are everything to the Chukcha people: food, clothes, and shelter. Thus, lichens gave life to my ancestors, and now these tiny organisms have given new life to me as an artist.

Lichens are my navel…

The photo is a part of the "ALIEN" collection, which is dedicated to lichens and their fractal beauty and wonderful qualities.

🏆 The "Alien collection" brought me to the final of the Arte Laguna Prize 16 and my artwork "Inside the Drop" was showcased at the finalists' exhibition at the Arsenale of Venice from March 11 to April 16, 2023.


PRINT INFORMATION:

Gicleè print on Canson Fine Art paper + COA

Installed in Ph-neutral passpartout 30x40 cm + backing, ready for framing
Image size 20x25cm

Limited edition 25

Signed, numbered and printed by the author



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Inna Etuvgi, hailing from Russia's Arctic shores, brings her technical background to light as a Swedish art photographer. Her artistic journey began in 2020, and in 2022, she gained recognition as a finalist in the Arte Laguna Prize 16. In 2023, she received an honour from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. Etuvgi’s works are featured in “Photography in the Visual Culture” 22/23 book.

Navigating life with Aphantasia, Inna's mind doesn't visualise, but it pulsates with vivid concepts, emotions, and sensations. She uses her camera not merely to explore the world but to externalise her unique mental landscapes, making them visible.

Art critic Tabish Khan says about Inna’s art: “her work is about transporting us to other worlds - both real and imaginary, but always in harmony with nature. She may have a mind blind to visualisation, but she has eyes and a camera that capture the beauty in the worlds that the rest of us often overlook and take for granted.”

Materials used:

fine-art paper, archival pigment inks

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