Fishing - a photo of a Cladonia lichens in the moss, limited edition print

Concept

Bio:

Inna Etuvgi - a self-taught art photographer with Aphantasia, specializing in macro world of northern nature, based in Sweden

Etuvgi was born in 1982 in a small village on the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Chukotka, Russia.

In 2005 Etuvgi graduated from the Faculty of Technical Cybernetics of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University with honours and a master's degree. In 2018 Etuvgi moved to Sweden, where being inspired by the local nature, she started macro photography in 2020. Technical education became for the author a good basis for self-education in photography, which in turn became her ideal way to express feelings and the way to explore the world.

In 2022, Etuvgi became a finalist at the Arte Laguna Prize 16 with her macro photos of Cladonia Stellaris lichens. And in 2023, the artist was granted a stipend from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.


Artist Statement:

Inna Etuvgi, a Swedish artist with Chukchi heritage and Aphantasia, crafts art that delves into the intricacies of nature and the human experience. Beginning her artistic journey in 2020, Etuvgi has quickly earned acclaim, including recognition from the Arte Laguna Prize and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.

Her work, a celebration of nature's overlooked splendors, ranges from the delicate patterns of dewdrops to the complex worlds of mosses and lichens. Through her photography, Etuvgi uncovers the hidden symphony of symbiotic relationships and stories within these tiny landscapes, inviting a deeper appreciation of our bond with the natural world.

Art critic Tabish Khan observes, "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." This insight captures the dual nature of Etuvgi's art: a journey into both the minute beauty underfoot and the broader strokes of imagination and identity.

Expanding her canvas with AI and digital tools, Etuvgi explores contemporary societal themes, blending photography with digital artistry in her "Secret Garden" series. This work navigates the complexities of identity and self-expression, reflecting on the ever-evolving roles we play in a changing world.

Etuvgi’s creations oscillate between reality and fantasy, the individual and the collective, serving as a bridge that connects diverse perspectives through the universal language of art. Her work is an invitation to see beyond the visible, into the heart of the interconnectedness that binds us all.