A place of my own: A photographer's thinking space
In a high-rise building in Diagonal Mar, Yan Pekar, a freelance Russian photographer, found what he considers the perfect apartment. Having lived in Russia, Israel, the UK, Portugal and Spain, Yan is adamant that Barcelona is the most positive place he’s settled so far. “Barcelona has something for any mood,” he explained. “From my apartment, I can go across the street to the Parc del Centre del Poblenou, walk ten minutes to the beach or wander the streets, observing the changes in architecture and mood as I stroll from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.” The environment of Barcelona helped Yan develop a new concept that he calls a “tactical approach to photography”. Artists seek inspiration from all that surrounds them—from the mountains, to the city, down to the sea—but they also need a steady place to think and sort through their creativity. Yan has found such a space on Bac de Roda.
The apartment building itself was designed by Carlos Ferrater, a well-known local architect. “I guess that’s why it’s bloody expensive to be a tenant,” Yan joked. Construction of the building was completed just before the bubble burst in 2008, around the time that other shiny, towering buildings like the Hotel ME, Diagonal Zero Zero and Illa del Mar were going up, altering the skyline of the area. The sleek, geometrical shape of Yan’s building fits right in with these nearby skyscrapers. From the stairwell, there’s even a view straight down Diagonal to the Torre Agbar—one of the most iconic new structures in the city.
Yan has been renting his flat for three years and gives credit for the interior decor to Alba Mendez, owner of the apartment and professional designer. Personal trinkets can be spotted throughout the apartment, however, which have been collected from everywhere and lugged to Barcelona to make his current home comfortable and keep his memories close. The most personal of these is a large, black frame, which holds old pictures of his parents and himself as a child. All the pictures framed around his apartment are of family, in fact. Not one he has taken as a professional. “It’s a strange feeling,” he admitted, “but I don’t want to see my own photographs around the apartment. Then I would begin to judge them myself, as opposed to now, where I only consider feedback from outsiders.”
Even without prints nailed to the walls, other signs reveal an artist at work in almost every room of the apartment. A collection of rubber ducks sits in the bathroom, waiting to entertain any kids in an upcoming photo shoot. Piles of photography books sit at his fingertips, ready to provide tips and inspiration. In his Barcelona apartment, Yan only has books that truly mean something to him. Books are not easy to transport, so when he left the UK, he gave away his collection of more than a thousand books as individual gifts. That way he could share his passion for reading, while keeping his personal belongings minimal.
In his bedroom, Yan has very little clutter—the only real decoration being a small chalkboard. Written on it are Russian words, which translate to “Energy. Health. Morning freshness.” Opening his eyes each morning, reading these words, he knows he will be able to do more with his day. Stepping out of the sliding glass doors onto his balcony, Yan points out that you can spot four swimming pools, none of which belong to his building. He gets a different use out of the pools, rather than a tan. “Some people have an aquarium as visual therapy. They let the motion of the water soothe them. Well, I just look outside at the water of the swimming pools. I’ve convinced myself it’s the same thing,” he laughed.
Photography, especially the post-production stage that Yan does at home—cropping, retouching, perfecting—can be time-consuming and stressful, so he has many ways to calm himself down, to find inner peace. For example, when he feels his temper rising, he looks to a little, bronze statue of a frog sitting in a Buddha pose. Meditation is a big part of his life. A Japanese symbol for happiness is taped on a wall in the living room. “When I see it, I remember there is no need to feel overwhelmed,” and he pauses in his work to meditate, concentrating on the flame of a single candle. Maintaining a relaxed ambience inside his apartment, not just keeping himself relaxed, is the most important thing for Yan. “I love my apartment so much because the second I step inside, I feel a sense of calm embracing me,” he said. “Photography is my life. And I need to live in an atmosphere where I can create and work.”
During the summer months, Yan has a guest practically every weekend—friends and family from the five countries he’s lived in. Everyone feels the same way about his apartment. Here they can enjoy a serenity that a lot of households never experience. “I also think I’m a good host,” Yan beamed. Whether it’s a dinner party or a couple friends over to catch up, he knows how to make people feel at ease. The only complaint might be that all the bottles around the apartment are used for candles. “There is no alcohol in the apartment,” he admitted. “I’m not a typical Russian.”
To delve deeper into Yan’s world through his photography, visit his website www.yanpekar.photography