ANNA FILATOVA

These are the photos of my mom. Her life turned 360 when she got 50. She got divorced after 30 years of marriage, moved to another city 5000 km away from her hometown where she has spent all her life, changed jobs, changed people around, bought a funky orange bicycle. At that moment of her life she needed visual proof that she can. Can move on, can have a new start, that she is beautiful and that there are many great moments are waiting ahead. This is the first photo shoot in her life. She was very nervous. The only thing she asked me as a photographer is that she wants to look herself with her real emotions and wrinkles. She did make up herself and chose clothes, no stylists, no pretending. After what had happened she wanted to be real. That is why these pictures are so important to me. She is full of life, adventurous, fun and as I see now very courageous. My mom is an inspiration. And you know what? She did move on. 

Artist statement: As an artist I use photography, clay and collage to express how I see the world and engage with a viewer. My works are a combination of bringing to attention small details that make life worth living, a touch of humour and an open question about deeper aspects of life. “You are too funny, it is not serious. – You are too serious, it is not funny“.