Tina Teizi: putting order to chaos
It's impressive how a single story can inspire such diversity through different mediums! Visual artists from around the world are taking part in WHISTLE project, in an attempt to present a multi-sensory experience never attempted before in the Greek visual art scene. And that's because we do not think of visual art as an experience that when viewed fades away, but as an excuse, a triggering event, a reason to produce an artistic conversation and a literal dialogue with everyone interested. This is the way we feel visual art should work.
In this short interview we meet photographer Tina Reizi, from Greece.
How did you learn about WHISTLE project and why did you decide to take part?
By chance, I saw the team's open call. I really liked the theme as well as the team's desire of a multi-dimensional art interaction.
What intrigued you?
The main theme. Traditional, folklore elements spoken in a modern language as well as a conversation with director Thanasis Protatos who gave me total expression freedom. I could tell the story on my own terms. This hit a nerve!
What was your workflow?
As always, trying to put order to chaos! Usually ideas come to me at the same time and every time I have to decide which ones are the less abstract and more relevant to the subject. I tried a few things, but from respect to the team's vision I ended up in two pictures. I set my own limits. Undoubtedly, photography is my language, but I always use it in my own way. I experiment, I don't document. Visualization of thoughts, not coping ready pictures.
What would you like to communicate through your work?
Ideally, a viewer can freely see anything in a picture, without analyzing, intuitively and spontaneously. Becomes a part of it without necessarily knowing the initial idea or motive. This creates a new piece of work with the viewer becoming a part of it.
Can you comment on the idea of synergy in Whistle project?
A very creative and alternative idea! In such collaborations, you are usually asked to follow a very specific, mostly controlled, line. Thus creativity does not play a major role. In the case of Whistle project, I was called to be inspired by the film and then create a parallel, even a new, story of the initial idea.
Why should anyone visit the exhibition?
To see many different versions and interpretations of a single story. The stimulus was one. Nonetheless, I would like to believe that everyone of us has something unique to say.
All the works created for WHISTLE project by Tina, will be available to the public during the transmedia exhibition.
Tina Reizi lives and works in Athens, Greece. She studied Applied Arts (Photography and Architectural Design). Her goal is to experiment. Experiment on light, in composition, in storytelling. She combines traditional and digital forms of expression, in an attempt to create a new form or many different ones. The result, visual stories in a language sometimes direct and clear and other times symbolic and abstract.
Find Tina at tnreize@gmail.com