Ukraine

Born in Kharkiv, from 2019 based in Kyiv. Works as freelance photographer and costume designer for independent Kharkiv-based theater «Neft’» Polina Karpova represents Ukrainian New Sincerity. Influenced by her father-photographer and mother-stylist, Polina analyses her life experience through photography by creating visual narratives, which might look plotless at first glance. Being both photographer and stylist, Karpova constructed scenes and characters in her hometown— Kharkiv.

While living in Kharkiv she was focused on the local provincial poetics and her place in it. Appearance and plastics of her characters are infantile, erotic and extravagant, starting from objective women’s sexuality and overing total erasing of the gender. Compositions created “here and now” are also distinctive in Karpova’s style; instead of the artificial environment of studio she
prefers interiors of the actual living spaces and city landscapes. The author creates her unique visual vocabulary by playing with contemporary fashion photography tricks and cliches and ignoring viewer’s expectations. All author’s photographs are autobiographical in a way. Karpova herself prefers to “hold the mirror” instead of being constantly reflected in it.