Xeniya Balsara is Belorussian born, Helsinki based freelance photographer and visual artist. Moving around – in addition to Belarus and Finland Xeniya also lived in Russia and Germany – helped her to sense universal human values and fears. Xeniya is interested in the social behaviour of people in relation to what cultural expectations can be found in the cultures of different countries.
Xeniya’s projects are mainly about taboos or forbidden and intimidated subjects, fears and even disgusting things as nudity (Cats and Boobs, My Perfect Dick Selfie), extreme body modification (Welcome to circus) or sorrow of losing a child (coming). In meanwhile she has been working since 2007 with many stage and circus performers including ongoing collaboration with Finnish industrial metal band Turmion Kätilöt known for theatrical and often scandal performances. First exhibition about the band, From circus with love, took place in 2012.
Exhibitions:
2009 Vastakohdat (shared, Helsinki, Finland).
2012 From circus with love (solo, Helsinki, Finland)
2016 Sideshow circus (solo, Helsinki, Finland)
2017 Cats and Boobs (solo, Helsinki, Finland)
2018 My Perfect Dick Selfie (solo, Helsinki, Finland)
2022 Naked city: limited edition (solo, Helsinki, Finland)
2022 Finnish erotic photography (joint+organizer, Helsinki, Finland)