“A major source of inspiration for me in my exploration of national identity has been the kitsch souvenir. And, as in most countries throughout the world, these can be found in abundance in Estonia. The traditional Russian matryoshka, or ‘nesting doll’, is the ubiquitous purchase for most tourists visiting this former Soviet state. The nature of the doll invites disassembly and reassembly of itself and it is this aspect of reinventing nationality that I initially chose to explore.

As a foreigner, I have not intended to make work about Estonian history or identity but to examine the idea of ‘foreignness’ itself. Both Estonians and ethnic Russians have greeted my deconstruction and reconstruction of the matryoshki with amused indifference. However, it has been observed that it is only my status as a foreigner that enables me to work in this way, with this subject.”