**Where are you from and how does that affect your work? **
I am from Estonia, a society shaped by multiple occupations that have left deep cultural ruptures and collective scars. This history has profoundly influenced my practice, sparking an interest in history, society, and the relationship between individual memory and collective narratives. Through my work, I explore how art can capture these experiences while also imagining alternative ways of remembering and understanding the pasts and presents.
**How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist? **
I try to balance my time and creative energy across different kinds of projects, which helps to stay curious and thinking fresh. I also try to make an effort to step away from work every few months, taking at least a week to completely disconnect.
**How does your work comment on current social or political issues? **
My work often begins with personal stories, but it reflects broader social and political questions. I’m interested in how history, power, and memory shape our understanding of identity, belonging, and home. I’m interested in space for reflection, encouraging us to reconsider whose stories are remembered, whose are forgotten, and how we might imagine different futures.
karljoonas.com
Karl Joonas exposeert tijdens de Vruchtbare Grond Expo van 17 tot en met 25 september