Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahnika Berg.
Hi Ahnika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography was always an underlying passion of mine that snuck up on me and demanded to be my life’s work. In middle school, when all my friends were getting iPods for games and social media, I wanted one for its camera. I bought my first Nikon digital camera in high school, and I made sure my college of choice had a photography program before I was convinced that I wanted to study it. After one semester, I fell in love with the practice and declared my major, graduating in December 2022.
After graduation, I shifted my focus from commercial work to art in search of creating meaning. My art journey began around the same time that I got that first iPod, through my struggle with depression, anxiety, and a panic disorder that peaked during the 2020 pandemic. I have always been a person who feels emotion very deeply, and very dark thoughts would take over my mind. For a long time, I could not regulate these feelings; they would become very real, physical experiences that would take my breath, make my limbs go numb, and send me into mental spirals that made me scream for the pain I was in.
Though this wasn’t always the case, today I believe that my ability to feel is one of my greatest strengths. Art is an outlet for anybody who needs to express things that can’t be spoken out loud, and I have learned to let go of controlling my expression. A year ago, I created a photographic artist book about my journey of finding self-expression amid mental health struggles. This handmade book, titled “Open Me,” was an incredibly formative project in my journey, and is available for viewing on my website for anybody who might need to express their struggles.
Today, I continue to explore my relationship with myself and the world through photography, writing, and painting. I’m still working to find the balance between experiencing darkness and beauty in this life, and although I believe that both must be experienced, my creative practice helps me seek out beauty.
There is a lot of pain in the world, and I believe in my role to do what is in my power to make it better, through sharing beauty and kindness, but also giving back to the people and places that have made my life better; the proceeds from my business are donated back to community organizations as frequently as possible.
I live in Northeast Minneapolis and can often be found at public parks and art festivals. Thank you for taking the time to read about my story, and even though I may not know who you are, I wish you the best.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As written in the previous section, I have struggled with my mental health for a long time. Exploring art has helped me gain a lot of confidence, but this is still a day-to-day struggle. Creative energy only flows when nurtured, and I’ve learned that I must care for myself to do my work. Honestly, this is something everybody must learn to balance, especially in a system that benefits from over-using its workers and over-extracting its resources. We can only do our best and learn as we go.
As far as business struggles, I know that I am still very much at the beginning of my journey. I have only just started my creative business, and I’ll be very honest by saying I have not seen a profit yet. I may not for a long time, but it is still work that I must do. I’m finding the balance between working hard to get off the ground and nourishing myself.
I have worked in the service industry for seven years to pay my expenses, including college and starting this business, and I’ll continue to do what needs to be done to make ends meet. I have found something that makes me excited about meeting the challenges brought my way, and I’m committed to working through them as they come.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My primary medium as an artist is photography, but I frequently use writing, painting, and digital art in my work to explore themes of nature, relationships, and mental health. My images are easily recognized through their use of lines and handwriting, which I use to create visual cues of connection and energy. I specialize in fine art prints and photographic bookmaking, which holds a special place in my heart.
The process of making a book from taking photographs in-camera to gluing the spine is intensive, and the energy and care that these pieces of art receive is evident in the quality of their craft. I have published two books thus far, one of them being “Open Me,” an exploration of mental health through self-expression.
I am most proud of this project because of how it helped me develop as an artist and the attention to detail that it taught me. I handle all of my production and printing, which allows for incredible control of print quality and sensitivity to sustainable resourcing, which I believe should be a priority of all businesses amid the climate crisis.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would love to share some gratitude! To the readers for taking their time to read this and get curious about who I am, and to the magazine for the opportunity to share myself.
If I know anything, it’s that our well-being in this life depends on our ability to connect. Every time we make an effort to do so with kindness and good intentions, the good energy spreads. Thank you.
Contact Info:
- Website: ahnikabergphotography.com
- Instagram: @ahnikaberg.creative
Image Credits
Ahnika Berg
