Jetmir's Map of Light and Love
Jetmir Idrizi is a Kosovar photographer who has lived and worked across South America. He now has his first solo exhibition at the National Gallery, so it's a great moment for a TenTen interview.
Jetmir Idrizi loves the light—not the kind that simply illuminates, but the kind that reveals. In his photographs, the body is both subject and storyteller, and emotion moves through the captured bodies like wind through fabric.
Raised in Prishtina, shaped by Argentina, Brazil, Berlin, and beyond, Jetmir’s practice crosses borders both physical and internal. He explores identity, desire, and transformation through a camera objective, that is tender, political, and fiercely human.
In this TenTen interview, we speak to Jetmir just days after the opening of his solo show at the National Gallery in Prishtina. We chatted about growing up in Kosova, learning Portuguese through literature, the first photo on film that made him fall in love with the medium, and what it felt like to shoot Amanda Lepore on a hot New York night. Jetmir opens up about the power of photographing one’s own body, the emotional cost of constant movement, and his dream of one day doing a shoot in the chill corner at Berghain’s second floor.
Jetmir is thoughtful, funny, vulnerable—and always in search of the next frame that will say something that words can’t.
Hi Jetmir! You just opened your solo exhibition at the National Gallery. If there’s one message you’d love for viewers to walk away with, what would it be?
I'd want viewers to walk away with a deep sense of empathy, understanding, and respect. Gender and sexuality are deeply personal, fluid, and unique to each individual therefore every persons desire to be who he/she/they/them want to be should be celebrated for their diversity and authenticity.
You explore the body, emotions, and spaces in your work. In these times of social media, less movement, and fewer deep conversations—what do you think is more at risk: the body or the mind/feelings?
To be honest it’s hard for me to say, I'll have to think more about it. The body is at risk spending more time sitting, more time looking at screens, and less time engaging in physical activity or truly connecting with the space around us. This lack of movement can have both physical and emotional consequences—affecting not just our health, but how we interact with the world. On the other hand, social media, while it's connecting us, it’s also isolating us from deeper, more meaningful conversations and sometimes it can create a shallow sense of connection and validation.
You’ve lived in Argentina and Brazil, you're now in Berlin, but your first steps in photography were in Prishtina. Is there a common thread that connects these places—something that feels distinctly jetmirish?
I’m really proud of my own journey, these cities really influenced my work. In Prishtina where I started with photography, I was trying to capture the rawness of post-conflict identity and the amazing youth through photographing in every possible event, party and...In the other side Brazil, the vibrant energy of the culture and the body’s role in expressing emotion deeply influenced my work. Argentina where I also lived 4 years, has a very special place in my heart because its the place where I started my new photography project which you guys will see in few years as it always takes me some time to go out with new stuff.
Although I’ve now lived for 3 years in Berlin, I still feel new in the city. I feel that in Berlin I’m still reflecting about my life and photography in Prishtina, Brazil, Argentina. If there’s one "distinctly Jetmirish thread”, it might be the ability to bridge different emotional and cultural landscapes while focusing on personal transformation.
What's your favorite place and food from each of these places you've lived?
Place definitely Rio de Janeiro, sometimes I feel I know every corner of that city but everytime I’m back I keep discovering it better and deeper. Food? Absolutely anything that is served at Chanchada bar. This is my favorite traditional Brazilian drinks and food spot in the area of Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.
What have you read, watched, or listened to lately—in literature, art, music, or film—that left a big impression on you?
In order to learn Portuguese fluently last 2 years I read 10 books in Portuguese and my favorite book out of them was ‘Plantation Memories’ by Grada Kilomba. Art? Definitely the solo show of Wolfgang Tillmans in Dresden which opened last month. His first museum exhibition in Germany after 13 years. I left mind blown.
If you could photograph anyone or anything in the world, with no limitations, what would it be—and why?
I’m happy with my opportunities. Because of the work of David LaChapelle and also her persona, I was obsessed with Amanda Lepore. In a terrible HOT New York night a friend called me to go to an after party of her show and I made an iconic portrait of her. Because our connection to Kosova, it’s really meaningful for me to photograph Rita Ora. Not only because she is a global super star but also seems to be very down-to-earth.
Do you remember the first photograph you took that really made you feel like a photographer? What was it of?
Not sure about which photograph made me feel like a photographer but definitely the first film I did in my life I felt that this is what I want to be doing my whole life. Exactly 20 years ago I was in the city with a camera which I borrowed from a friend. I bought a film and I went to a random photo studio in Sunny Hill (Prishtina neighborhood ) and asked them if I could come with a girl to make her few portraits. It was my dear friend Arta Gashi. I was amazed with the outcome. It’s a pity these pictures/film don't exist anymore.
What’s your favorite kind of light—not technically, but emotionally? Like… heartbreak light? Coffee-at-6am light? Clubbing light?
It’s the light at exactly 13:00 pm on a sunny Berlin day, at the chill corner at Berghain’s second floor, just before climbing the stairs to Panorama bar. I sometimes dream of that space to make a photo shoot.
Is there a photo you’ve taken that you absolutely love—but have never shown to anyone?
Of course, I did some amazing naked pictures of me during the pandemic on a Kodak Portra 800 medium format film which I never showed to anyone.
A ma mirë ktu a atje :) ?
Because of its’ vibrant and magnetic energy I have to say ‘Atje’.
