Ilir Tsouko uses photography to reveal the many layers he sees in people. His exhibition Illegal Streets is currently showing at Helmut as a satellite of f-stop photography festival.It looks at homelessness in Budapest where it has been against the law to “live on the street” since October of 2018. This may appear to have solved the “problem”, but the reality is that it has resulted in a dress and behavioral code in order for the homeless to blend in.
His long-term projects revolve around perception and creation of identity with its ever-changing shapes. Migration, social issues and political events that can be reflected directly into the society, are subjects that he mostly follows. It is no surprise that Ilir’s stories are often those of migrants. This is something of which he has first-hand knowledge. Born in Albania (b.1990) and raised in Athens, Greece, he is currently based in Berlin and Tirana.
Ilir’s work has been published by notable publications such as The Guardian, Fluter, Vice, The Calvert Journal, der Freitag, TAZ, WOZ, Republik, ROM, Agenda Magasin, Are We Europe Magazine, Datum, Lifo, DLF, and other mostly European Magazines and Newspapers. Ilir is collaborating with different NGO’s and Foundations like MSF, Amnesty International, Mission Lifeline,Border Violence Monitoring, Heinrich–Böll–Stiftung, ERSTE Foundation and Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.
PK’s current Remote Culture Journalism Intern Jisoo Seo had a chance to talk to Ilir about his work.
immigrants are dreamers
Jisoo: Ilir, your research is based on your interest in immigrants, social problems, and political cases. You showed an attitude where you sublimated it through artistic practice, so is there a particular reason why you focus on this issue at the present time?
Ilir: Yes, I feel close to these people. I am an immigrant myself and I know how it is to face social problems, how it is to belong to the powerless. On the other side, I am really inspired by their power and endeavor. They fight to survive and most importantly: they are dreamers.
photos supplied by artist
Jisoo: In your works of art, I sensed a fighting spirit within someone chasing after a path in the darkness to discover light. You intended to witness the problems that made you curious. Entering a factory and observing the laborers, going into a mine to cast light on mine workers. You even manage to go through journeys to Chernobyl and the Balkan Route. These are people who are not the key figures of our company. In a way, they represent an uncomfortable truth in our society.
It is a human nature to like what makes us feel comfortable rather than what makes us feel uncomfortable. You always stand at the crossroads and try to confront the uncomfortable truth. Also, through your courage demonstrate in your works, we can recognize those who should join us in our society. I suppose that there are lots of stories that cannot be confined as a subject in a single picture. It makes me curious about your work process as well as the stories about the people that you met through it.
Ilir: All human beings are part of our society and all are important parts of a society. I can identify with workers, migrants, war victims or if you want, the ‘outsiders’. I am lucky: I studied, hold a Masters degree and speak several languages. Still, I feel comfortable when I am among those people. And it doesn’t matter if you hold an academical title or not. They will accept you, as long as you are authentic. What really counts is to have empathy and sensitivity, not a great camera. When I look at the people I am portraying, I am trying to find answers. I am searching for memories and questions. It is a long and powerful process and I can go through it by diving deep in the history of my protagonists.
“I have a special relationship from the beginning,” says Ilir
Jisoo: What has been the most inspiring place and also, who has impressed you the most?
Ilir: I am always impressed by the places that I have been to and of course, by the stories of the people I meet. All of them are unique. Since I choose all of my stories, I have a special relationship with them right from the beginning. All the stories that I have worked on so far convey one key message at the end: ‘’Resilience’’! This is for me the biggest inspiration. It doesn’t matter what happened in your life. When you find the courage to work on it, to accept that your scars are a part of you. It’s crucial ‘s to find something positive despite everything that’s happened, to continue your life with a smile in your face. When we realize that we only live once, then our lives will inspire us.
Jisoo: In ‘Illegal Streets,’ you indicated, ‘who has taken the time to stop and ask for the reasons why they are where they are today? It is easy to point the finger to the weak, but in a mature society there is place for everybody. The responsibility of keeping democratic values is spread among every single citizen. ’ Pictures show the situations through the subject, but in a way, there is ambivalence where the subjects cannot be edified as the truth. I am sure you contemplated deeply about this since you are a photographer. What kind of power of art do you believe in, and what would be the roles as a photographer?
Ilir: Well, what we are today and how we see the world today is related to where we come from, our families, the society we grew up with, our education etc. Each photographer decides who he/she is when the edit process of the project begins. We select the pictures we publish, and this is what shows who we are, what we feel, what we want to say and how we want to communicate with the public. At the same time, we also choose a role as individuals. For me, it is important to feel comfortable with my work. To be sure that I respect my protagonists and the recipient. It is always great when the work achieves to be accepted and of relevance at present and (hopefully) in the future.
What’s next?
Jisoo: What does it mean that there is place for everybody?
Ilir: I mean really, there is a place for everybody. I cannot imagine that in our cities we don’t have space for homeless people, when we have space for parking lots or huge shopping centers.
Jisoo: Is there a theme that you are working on right now?
Ilir:Yes, I am working on personal project in relation to my homeland Albania. I was born there, but I left when I was only 6. Now 31 y.o I am trying to get closer to this country. Like many others, I don’t feel that I have an identity. But sometimes, I realize that I take decisions related to the Albanian or Greek language, which I both consider as my mother tongue. So, because I am not sure how to feel about the future, I would like to turn to the past for a while. In Albania and Greece, I feel that the sense of life is different than in Germany. Maybe is the Mediterranean soul, the theatrical way of life, the drama. I am not sure.
Jisoo: Please share about what you would like to achieve as an artist through the online residency program and also your ambition and career plans for the future.
Ilir: I am happy to be part of the online art residency program and I believe that for me as an artist, it is very important to open my view and to see different directions. Through the exchange with the other residents, and of course, through the collaboration with our teachers, I will learn new ways to express myself. About the future and career plans: I can only say, that I am not planning a lot at the moment. In Albanian we say ‘’When the people make plans, their Karma makes jokes’’. Let’s see what the future will bring.
written by Jisoo Seo
Ilir Tsouko is participanting in PILOTENKUECHE’s online residency program #3, which has a special focus on performance art. His exhibition Illegal Streets is currently showing at Helmut as a satellite of f-stop photography festival.
Ilir Tsouko / Ilegal Streets
Helmut
51 Kohlgarten-Str
04315 Leipzig
open 4-7
Thur, Fri, Sat