I'm looking for several couples who can talk to me about the place where you met at the first time with your partner (or memorable place for your relationship).

In Estonia, I'm making a new series called "Micro-History" during my residence in Tallinn.
As a Japanese artist, I'd like to catch some similarities between us - Japanese and Estonian in each others' personal feelings beyond the cultural differences through my photographic work. I already studied Estonian history in general, but I found a keyword "Micro-History" from Italian historian Carlo Ginzburg, and I'd like to develop this keyword in all over Estonia.

It means that I will try to record the traces of our memories, and even if it was small and personal, if it was important to someone, it should be a big event in his/her micro-(or personal)history. I'd like to correct these micro-histories from Estonians.

Practically, I will interview some couples in Estonia to ask where has one of them proposed to getting married, or said "I love you", or kissed at the first time etc..i.e their important and memorable place, from which I'd like to correct the starting point of their relationship, i.e. the beginning of their "love story". The place might be in a room in their house, or at the sea, at the forest or at the club if they are young etc.. Then I will go to these places and take photos without them.

These landscapes won't tell the big History, but for our feelings, I'm sure that they will show Estonian "Micro-History" about the relationship (and hopefully "love"). Then I will show these personal landscapes with their comments. But I won't show their portraits.

Even though I will take many photographs, it wouldn't be easy to find a relationship between me and Estonians, as I don't live in Estonia for a long time (even though I visited to Estonia some times from 2005). However, I try to insert my personal experiences on this basis - these landscape photographs to metamorphose them for connecting them to me. If it's a "Micro-History, it may be able to reach to my own
or/and Japanese "Micro-history".

If you can help me or if you know someone can help me, feel free to contact me.
hirohisakoike(at)gmail.com

Thanks.

Hirohisa Koike, May 2012

Harjumägi



My temporary studio



From the window of my studio