10. Joakim Eskildsen: Views from Home

Peter speaks to the Danish photographer Joakim Eskildsen about his three-decade long career and the deep connections he has forged along the way.Beginning their conversation by focusing on Joakim’s ongoing exhibition at the Fotografisk Center in Copenhagen, they explore what it means to photograph one’s home. Tracing his path in reverse back to its beginnings, it became clear that Joakim’s upbringing in Denmark continues to hold a deep influence over his artistic interests and sensibilities.Joakim’s family holds a profound importance to him, defining not only his role as a father but his identity as a photographer. We talk about how fatherhood has influenced his approach to making pictures.Joakim is the author of six photo-books with a seventh one currently in the making. Detailing the production of his book The Roma Journeys, first published by Steidl in 2007, Joakim recounts the vigorous process of what it was like to work with the master printer Gerhart Steidl in bringing the complexities of his visual narratives to life.They also discuss Joakim’s formative years as a student in Finland during the mid-1990s. Joakim shares the experience of his encounter with Finnish photographers including Ritva Kovalainen, Pekka Turunen, Pentti Sammalahti and Jorma Puranen, as he considers the impact these mentors have had on his approach to image-making.www.joakimeskildsen.comJoin the conversation on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelandbehind