ALIEN LICHENS - ART PHOTO OF CLADONIA STELLARIS LICHENS FROM THE SWEDISH FOREST

Concept

Bio:

Inna Etuvgi is a self-taught art photographer with Aphantasia, based in Sweden. Specializing in the macro photography of northern nature, Etuvgi's work reveals the intricate beauty of mosses, lichens, and other often-overlooked elements of the natural world.

Born in 1982 in a small village on the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Chukotka, Russia, Etuvgi’s early life in the remote Arctic instilled in her a deep respect for nature's fragile balance. This upbringing would later become a key influence in her artistic practice.

In 2005, she graduated with honors from the Faculty of Technical Cybernetics at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, earning a master's degree. Although her background is in technology, Etuvgi’s technical knowledge has been instrumental in her self-education in photography and digital art, allowing her to merge technical precision with artistic expression.

After moving to Sweden in 2018, Etuvgi was inspired by the local landscapes, leading her to explore macro photography in 2020. Her work has become a way to not only express her feelings but also explore and connect with the world around her, reflecting both her sensitivity to nature and her fascination with the unseen.

In 2022, Etuvgi was a finalist in the prestigious Arte Laguna Prize 16 for her macro photographs of Cladonia Stellaris lichens. In 2023, she was awarded a grant from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, further recognizing her contribution to the field of art photography.



Artist Statement:

My work is a response to the delicate balance of life that I learned to respect growing up in the Arctic, where survival depends on the smallest signs of nature. Through macro photography, I magnify the hidden beauty of mosses, lichens, and dewdrops—overlooked organisms that play an essential role in maintaining ecosystems—challenging the human-centered worldview.

With Aphantasia, my inability to visualize images internally, nature becomes my external mirror, reflecting my inner landscapes, coloured with emotions and sensations. This intimate dialogue with nature drives my creative process. By incorporating AI and generative digital art, I extend this exploration, blending the organic with the technological, to examine how humans fit into both natural and social systems.

Ultimately, my art serves as a reminder of the fragile interconnectedness of all life. As we push forward into an increasingly technology-driven future, my work encourages viewers to pause, reconsider their place in the world, and embrace a more mindful and compassionate relationship with nature.

______

Art critic Tabish Khan captures the essence of her work: “Whether she's taking us close to the Earth at its smallest scale or creating fantastical figures covered in plant life through digital art, her work is about transporting us to other worlds—both real and imaginary, but always in harmony with nature.”