Have you ever found a part of yourself in somebody else? We each have our own stories and baggage that we carry with us each day. Even though our narratives are different, aren’t they simultaneously the cause of our similarities? Olga Engibarova, alias Engi, is a Ukrainian photographer who reflects her own soul through a portrait of the other.

Often, an object becomes an extension of an artist’s hand. This tool can be used to expand the scope of the artist’s creativity, connecting their mind and soul to their work. For Olga, the camera becomes this extension. Her photography is remarkably peculiar, from the pictures of others she expresses her own emotions.

In the beginning, simply a pencil and a piece of paper served Olga to sketch a portrait, using either watercolour or aquarelle to depict a view of her environment. Over time, the artist found this method to be insufficient. The surrounding, the crowd, and the faces impelled Olga to put these materials aside. Instead, the artist picked up a little camera and would shoot everything from her viewpoint.

The eye of the camera never lies?

We are exposed to so many different creations; writings, songs, paintings… All of these exist purely to reveal the fragile soul. For Olga, photography is her very own song and poetry that she is enraptured by. Photos enable her to speak for a soul and uncover all of her shadows. In this sense, her art remains even more captivating, allegorically expressing herself through pictures of others. Through these portraits, the emotions in their eyes and in their expressions, the artist portrays her own. This connection extends from Olga’s relationship with the model. In this way, it is very important to determine who the model is. Olga seeks a character with whom they will establish a special bond and a connection. With the skilled use of a camera, she grips the spirit of an individual, while also leaving a part of herself on the image.

images by PILOTENKUECHE or supplied by artist

Just as all human beings have their scratches and imperfections, as do photographs. Albeit, we can look for excellence in our lives and artists may too endeavor to the same in their work. But is the perfection honestly essential? No matter how many filters and adjustments we make, in fact, it remains obscure. Embracing this, Olga persists to be genuine. Consciously, the artist chooses to shoot using a camera with defective and slightly damaged lenses and seeks substandard framings. These objects enable her to focus on the representation of authenticity of emotions.

Is the more defective better appealing?

When it comes to imperfections, eccentricities often may be considered as unusual and defective. At odds with those who dislike peculiarities, Olga finds them intriguing. She carries this interest into her ironic project about Odessa style and extravagant people in her town. She quotes Brodsky, a cherished poet:

Then, when loves are not with us,
Then, when the cold makes us hunchbacked,
Take the gun out of the suitcase…
Take it out. And pawn it at the pawn shop.
Use the money to buy a gramophone
and dance somewhere in the world…

“For life does not go back and does not linger on yesterday”

Sometimes, they say you should never let go of the little child you have inside of you. Sometimes, they say you should grow up and not act like one. And sometimes, it is simply difficult to differentiate these discouragements. Perhaps, we shouldn’t. After all, childhood, the experiences we gained, constitute who we truly are. For Olga, it is another intimate, but at the same time precious part of her entity that she wishes to disclose. Neverland is a long running project from a Ukrainian island, where she got to know families with children. Being led by the slogan: “children should be able to play in the mud”; she shot pictures. Through this phrase, Olga’s photographs mirror her unique stories, dreams and memories. As she underlines; it is a gift to believe in childhood and keep it in a heart.

Even with this, sometimes one medium is not enough to express an entirety of emotions. Currently, Olga is conducting an experiment in which she is the subject herself. The artist is putting her stories, situation and relationship under the microscope, while documenting in a journal. Just as existence and psyche are complex and layered, likewise is Olga’s diary project. She finds it uneasy to narrow and structure all sequences and entanglements. That being the case, we are longing to discover Olga’s decisions upon her life project. Could it be a puzzling installation or knotty movie? Come to the next show PK&Friends and reveal the secret for yourself.

Written by Aleksandra Szapańska

Keep up to date with Olga’s work on her website. As a International resident, her work can be seen in the upcoming PK events.

Moving surreal curiosity
PK & Friends potluck plus open studio

Fri 27 May
7-10PM PK & Friends
8PM anverso performance

Sat 28 May
4-8PM open studio
performances
6PM anverso
7PM Eugene Buldyk 

Dark Hope Respite

Vernissage
Sat 18 June
7-10PM

open
19-22 June
2-6PM

PILOTENKUECHE International Art Program
Franz-Flemming-Str 9
04179