Siniša Glogoški Varaždin, Croatia/Hrvatska

SINIŠA GLOGOŠKI was born in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a unique little town called Travnik. He is currently a student of MA Photography at the Academy of dramatic arts in Zagreb. He has had some exhibitions, big ones and small ones, but most of all, he loves to travel. He loves to smile with the bedouins in the desert; sleep on the ruins of ancient long forgotten cities and dried out rivers; stare at stars, faces and wrinkles; fall of the bicycle and run from wild dogs; argue with thieves; observe people in trains; freeze on nonexistant ice roads; watch lightnings and frozen seas; sun and dust; silhouettes of crows and leafless trees.

Siniša Glogoški

Siniša Glogoški was chosen by photogrpaher Arfun Ahmed

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 Laatikkomo’s interview with Siniša Glogoški December 17th, 2013

L: Where are you from? What cities, and/or countries have you lived in – or what places/cultures have influenced you?

SG: I was born in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a small city Travnik. I have lived in Travnik for a while, moved back and forth between Bosnia and Croatia, and I’m currently living in the city of Zagreb, Croatia.

L: What is your earliest memory of photography?

SG: I was around 6 or 7 years old when a humanitarian organization gave everyone at our refugee camp a simple disposable camera. They promised to develop the film and give us the photos. It was my first photo project. I can still remember the photo I took of a friend carrying hot soup from the dining hall, wearing sandals on a cold December day. His bare feet on a thick layer of snow is the image that I often think of when I remember those days.

L: Your images show landscapes from places you have travelled to. Do you see yourself as a travel photographer, a documentary photographer or something else altogether?

SG: I still haven’t put a label on the work and hopefully never will. Besides travelling I actually have a big passion for conceptual projects which are borderline photography. I’m still trying out different mediums and enjoying experimenting.

L: The act of travelling is an important part of your work, but travel is not always fun and/or easy; you need to face yourself and your own limitations along with other foreign imposed limits. What inspires you to continue: what is your motivation?

SG: Well there was a moment a few years back when I somehow decided to follow that childish dream of travelling. I sat on a bicycle and rode from Croatia to Syria. It was a two month journey that just confirmed that I can really do whatever I wish to do. So why not do what I love. Motivation isn’t hard to find when you do what you love. There are, of course, sometimes very difficult moments, but as I resolve them one by one, I learn a lot about myself and my surroundings and just keep going.

L: Through your photographs and films, it almost feels like my eyes are the camera and you are guiding me around showing me things I should see. Are there ever moments in your travel when the camera is not enough for the feelings and emotions of the moment, and you choose not to take a picture?

SG: There are so many moments that I didn’t capture, just because of not wanting to ruin the moment, or distort the atmosphere. And I don’t regret that. I store those precious moments in my mind and every now and then I just smile when I remember them.

L: There is a romantic heroism about your work: man alone in the midst of powerful, beautiful wilderness. But I am guessing that you see other aspects of life as well. Do you have specific criteria for the subject matter of your photographs?

SG: The “man alone in wilderness” is not quite correct. I mostly do travel without a companion, but I am rarely alone. That is the aspect I love most. Exploring different social groups, their lifestyle and the functioning of their community.  For a brief moment I manage to fit in. I don’t like to limit myself so I try to keep an open mind whenever I can.

L: Photographs, and documentary photographs in particular, often tell stories. Do you have an overall (Global) story or message you want to tell with your images?

SG: I think that every project has a unique message. I loved the small project I did while travelling trough Russia. I was asking almost everyone I met what their greatest wish is. I was at a point where I was a bit lost and confused with my own life. Being aware that one can do anything they wish for, opens up a lot of doors and even though the feeling is liberating, it is at the same time somehow pressuring. The answers people gave me were really diverse and interesting but the greatest thing that happened is they managed to help me find the answer I was looking for. Never to stop having a wish in life.

L: Could you list a few words that you were thinking about when you made this work?

SG: Home. Warm. Distant. Coexistence.

L: Where are you going next? And what are the future destinations on your must-go list?

SG:  I’m currently finishing my Master’s degree in Photography so that is a journey itself. As soon as I graduate, I will devote myself to two big projects I’m working on. Can’t really uncover anything about them, but hold your fingers crossed that everything goes as planned. Thank you.

Thank you Siniša Glogoški!