08/05/2026
The Poetry of the Alchemist.
I have always been fascinated by forms of creative processes in which not everything can — or even should — be fully controlled. I myself have been deeply inspired by experiments with bacterial pigments and rust dyeing.
To me, this is a form of creative collaboration in which the creator places trust not only in themselves, but also in life, materials, and processes outside their control. This kind of making brings freedom, playfulness, and excitement, releasing the creator from the pursuit of perfection and opening space for a different kind of co-authorship.
This Tuesday, we opened Claus Rohland’s exhibition " It Is The Traveller Only Who Is Foreign" at Dokfoto Keskus. His positives, taken in the Middle East in the 1970s, have acquired a new visual quality through the effects of moisture, mould, and time — becoming mirage-like and unrepeatable works of art. This wasn't an intentional approach, but rather something shaped by accident, circumstance, and time itself. For me, this exhibition touches on the very same question: what happens to the creative process, the creator's perception, and the meaning of the final work when the artwork is shaped not only by the creator, but also by something beyond the creator? And who is the creator?
The silk kimono in the photo was created through rust dyeing. Beyond the uniqueness of the fabric itself, rust carries, for me, the value of life’s unfolding and maturity. It is a sign of resilience, depth, and beauty accumulated over time.
Both the rust on fabric and the moisture damage in Rohland’s photographs resonate with me through the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which values imperfection, temporality, and natural change. It finds beauty in things that are worn, aged, or flawed and reveals a deeper sense of meaning and harmony in them.
I invite you to experience this enchanting exhibition and journey .
Rust-printed textiles, kimonos, and accessories can be ordered from .
* The Poetry of the Alchemist is my new series of reflections on creative processes, where I explore approaches, techniques, and philosophies of creation.