Mika Sperling: Mother Tongue

Photographer Mika Sperling (*1990) explores how origins and culture influence interpersonal relationships in her personal family history, using language as a key theme. Her photographic examination focuses on her young daughter and her Vietnamese stepmother, experimenting with perspectives, close-ups, and reflecting surfaces to engage the audience more intensively.

Format: Hardback
Length: 68 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2022
Publisher: Kerber Verlag

In her captivating book "Mother Tongue," Mika Sperling (*1990) delves into the intricate interplay between origins, culture, and interpersonal relationships, drawing upon her personal family history. Language serves as a central theme in this profound exploration. Through a photographic examination, Sperling focuses her lens on her young daughter and her Vietnamese stepmother, capturing their unique perspectives and intimate moments.

Sperling employs a range of artistic techniques, including perspectives, close-ups, and reflecting surfaces, to showcase the surroundings and personal objects of the individuals portrayed. Trained in the documentary tradition, Sperling represents a new generation of photo-essayists who embrace historical references and creatively process them through various mediums and objects, aiming to engage the audience on a deeper level.

"Mother Tongue" is a bilingual text, featuring English alongside additional texts in German, Russian, and Vietnamese, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the diverse cultural tapestry that shapes Sperling's narrative. This captivating book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the profound impact of origins, culture, and language on our relationships, shedding light on the complexities of identity and the beauty of cross-cultural connections.

Weight: 586g
Dimension: 260 x 205 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783735608208