Short film of photographer & artist Sergei Pavlov for his exhibition ‘Echo’

Direction / Päivi Niemi

Concept / Päivi Niemi & Sergei Pavlov

Film & edit / Alex Savander

On March 9, 2024, the photography exhibition "Kaiku" (Echo) by Sergei Pavlov opened at the Design Lab Gallery in Helsinki. In his art, Sergei Pavlov, a prominent Finnish photographer, seeks to capture the essence of the people, places, and experiences that unfold in his own life. Impressed by Pavlov's creative expression, Iittala invited him for an artistic collaboration.

Pavlov's artistic practice seamlessly intertwines with his life, reflecting on themes of existence, relationships, intuition, intimacy, and emotion. Curator Anna Mustonen explains the essence of Pavlov’s work:

”At the core of Pavlov's artistic philosophy is the belief that photography serves as a potent medium for emotional connection. Navigating the intricacies of human relationships – both romantic and platonic – his portraits at times border on abstraction. Human forms unexpectedly juxtaposed with natural and artificial shapes create curious pairings that leave a space for the viewers to fill with their own interpretation.”

Grounded in the tradition of autobiographical documentary photography, Pavlov establishes profound connections with his subjects, many of whom are close friends. Through this association, he cultivates mutual emotional trust and intimacy that forms the foundation of his photographic storytelling. Delicately Pavlov aims to open viewers to each other, fostering a sense of interconnectedness:

"THERE IS ALWAYS AN ‘US’ INSTEAD OF AN ‘I’," PAVLOV SAYS.

In this short film, the attempt was to continue the theme of intimacy, showing the slow process of Pavlov working with his portraits in the privacy of a darkroom. The film was screened at the exhibition, giving the visitors an extra layer of the stories Pavlov tells with his strong portraits.