Rūta Kalmuka (LV, b. 1974) began her photography studies in 1992 at Riga’s Technical Creativity House – Annas 2 – under the tutelage of Andrejs Grants. She went on to work in the field of photojournalism for almost 20 years. Today, Kalmuka’s interest lies in historical photographic processes, working primarily with analogue and large-format techniques. In 2025, she was nominated for the prestigious European photography platform, FUTURES.
Exhibited here, Kalmuka’s Dzen series explores themes of purification and release through the lens of ancient spring rituals. Centred on the body and movement as ritual action, the project draws on the Livonian tradition of ‘driving birds’ and ‘calling birds’: where large birds symbolised illness and evil spirits, small birds represented light and awakening. Using analogue large-format photography and butoh-inspired movement, Kalmuka reinterprets ritual as a metaphor for new beginnings.
Artist is presented by ISSP Gallery
