Does the modern world impress you? Not in a smartphone/TV/media/social media way – that’s anxiety. But in a research/visionary/creative expression way – yeah. Do you believe in world peace? Not at the moment, no. In the event of a disaster, where would you go? Personal disaster? Away. Fleeing. If you had to align yourself with a leader in history, who would it be? Joan of Arc. Is disappointment healthy? In a way yeah. But balance, there must be balance. Is it healthy to meet your heroes? Always. When are you most aware you are ageing? When dating a maybe too young guy who asks “what was it like growing up before the internet?” Ultimate camera? The one that’s currently broken – a Contax T3. Don’t need much. Most used camera? My tiny Mju II. What is the best way to educate yourself? To experience! Which living person do you most admire? My friend Anna. She’s a teacher. She deals with kids. Twenty of them! That’s hardcore. I don’t even like kids.
On what occasion do you lie? More rarely nowadays (which is good!), I can get like a truth-tourettes instead. But I guess the most common, irritating and boring lie is when people you don’t know that well ask you how you are and you’re sort of forced to say “good, and you?” Do you google too much? No, I google efficient. Are you satisfied with your level of physical strength? Hah! no What do you think is the most plausible of the supernatural? I have a thing for vampires (like everybody else) so my bets are on them. What is your nationality? Swedish.. What nationality would you like to be alternatively? Spanish! What is it that interests you about photography? That it forces you to look, all the time, with wide open eyes. Are you aware of any conspiracies? Probably. Have you recently been living by any life philosophy? Plenty of them. I collect them like stamps and put tiny quotes in every notebook I have.
What moment have you most wished you’d had a camera when you hadn’t? Never, I always carry it with me. Make a prediction for the future. I. Will. Leave. Sweden. What essential life skills are schools neglecting to teach our children? I don’t know how it is now, but fifteen years ago – gender studies from year 1. Name one smell that triggers an abstract memory. What smell doesn’t trigger a memory? You have the superpower to control a single emotion in all people. Which emotion? Curiosity. Last words before death? I’ll probably steal Thoreau’s last words: “Now comes good sailing”, followed by two lone words, “moose” and “Indian”.
A self portrait – Hanna Ukura
