Alissa Nirgi is a photography artist who lives and work in Tallinn. She has obtained BA degree from the department of photography at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2016. Nirgi is currently studying at the refreshment training course on visual art therapy at Tallinn University. In 2015, Alissa Nirgi was awarded the Eduard Wiiralt Grant. Among her works of wider recognition there are photography project „A new land outside my window“ (exhibited in 2015-2016 in several exhibitions, including EKA Gallery during Tallinn Photo Month; Dymchuk gallery in Kiev, Ukraine; and Riga Photography Biennale) and public space photo installation „Kaspar is sitting“ (2015, exhibited in public space of Tallinn, Estonia).
In her work, Nirgi uses documentary approach and is mostly inspired by alienation from one’s environment, accommodation and the sense of belonging. While being intrigued by the subjects such as migration and language barrier, the artist focuses on human beings or human groups who are in a way between two environments – they have either been separated from or forced to leave their habitual enviroment and they are strangers in their new surroundings.
At her current exhibition in Hobusepea gallery, Alissa Nirgi presents a photo series that has been completed in collaboration with eight Mormon missionaries serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tallinn, Pärnu and Tartu. Nirgi asked the missionaries to take photos with disposable cameras about their favourite places, people, objects and situations in order to find out about their personal preferences.
Exhibition will be open until March 13, 2017.
Thanks to: Terje Nirgi, Kaspar Kiinvald, Mari Armei
Exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Exhibitions in Hobusepea gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Estonian Ministry of Culture.
