Reinis Hofmanis
(Latvia)Reinis Hofmanis (1985) is a Latvian artist and photographer known for his socio-anthropological approach, exploring societal groups and their impact on environments. He studied photography in Hannover, Germany, and holds a master’s degree in Visual Communication from the Art Academy of Latvia. Reinis received Archifoto’s main prize in 2012, as well as 2nd place in the Architecture category at the Sony World Photography Awards in 2013. His works have been featured in publications such as New York Times, Financial Times, Spiegel, Zeit magazine, Esquire, Bloomberg, Le Monde, The Globe and Mail and The British Journal of Photography.
Shared Horizon
I aim to explore borders—both physical and mental—and the internal divides shaping society in the Baltic states today. Inspired by my childhood in Latgale, not far from the Russian border, and the current geopolitical climate, this project will examine both tangible borders, like the 283.6 km Latvia-Russia boundary, and psychological ones within our society. I would like to explore how these borders influence identity, belonging, and the broader impact on daily life, offering insight into the complex dynamics of life in border regions, where external and internal divides shape both personal and collective experiences.
BTS Footage
From the Judge
Masako Sato
“As global instability increases, the concept of “border,” symbolized by national boundaries, has become an increasingly important issue. Reinis Hofmanis’s project, originating from Latvia—a country that is inevitably confronted with this issue—will undoubtedly present a powerful image of contemporary concepts of “border” based on historical and geopolitical facts.”
Gallery
Newly constructed fence at the Russian border in Adēze Parish. March 2025 ©Reinis Hofmanis
Pontoon bridge over a lake used by the National Guard for patrol. Previously, patrols had to walk around the entire lake. March 2025 ©Reinis Hofmanis
Melnava School Park ©Reinis Hofmanis
Anatolijs in front of his house in Goliševa. Almost every yard in Goliševa is surrounded by tall fences. Goliševa is a village near the border, where there used to be a border crossing point with Russia. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Defense education class led by an instructor at Viļaka Secondary School park. Viļaka. May 2025. One of the first schools to introduce military training in high school before it was made mandatory. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Maintained garden located just a few meters from the Russian border. Goliševa. May 2025 ©Reinis Hofmanis
Refugees playing football in the schoolyard of the asylum seeker accommodation center “Liepna”, 2nd biggest in Latvia. Liepna. March 2025. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Soviet-era figures — a fox and a crane — by the roadside, from a popular Russian folk tale. In the story, the fox serves food in a flat dish the crane cannot eat from, and the next day the crane serves food in a narrow vase the fox cannot eat from, teaching the moral: treat others as you wish to be treated. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Sauna building located directly at the border. The landowner explains that his grandmother used to live in the house visible on the other side of the fence. Viļaka District. May 2025. Sauna is not used anymore, because the fence has cut off the access to the small river where one could take a refreshing swim after sauna. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Interior of an abandoned house a few hundred meters from the Russian border. Goliševa. May 2025 ©Reinis Hofmanis
Children building a treehouse in the bushes, with Soviet-era houses of Liepna visible in the background. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Interior of the motel. The owner’s husband, a former officer (self-portrait on the left), is a self-taught painter. Below the tapestry is a weapons collection and a Soviet-era passport. 22 March 2025. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Textile artist Annele Slišāne lives with her family and six children just a few hundred meters from the border, in Upīte, Viļaka municipality. The forest visible in the background lies already within Russian territory. ©Reinis Hofmanis
A crucifix inside a modest roadside shrine, typical in many parts of Latgale. Very often, borderland residents identify themselves more by religious affiliation — Catholics, Orthodox, Old Believers — than by nationality, such as Latvian, Polish, or Russian. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Military infrastructure, commonly known as “Dragon’s Teeth,” placed along the roadside. Piedruja. March 2025 ©Reinis Hofmanis
A farm’s livestock in the borderland. The farmer arrived in a horse-drawn cart to see what I was doing in his field. Livestock farming and agriculture are among the most common occupations in the border area. Kalnieši Parish. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Beehives at the edge of the Russian border, Viļaka District. A beekeeper met along the way explains that a bear crossing from Russia has destroyed several of his apiaries in the border area. ©Reinis Hofmanis
The border with Russia is in Goliševa. The forest visible beyond the fence is Russian territory. May 2025. ©Reinis Hofmanis
My father watches over the bonfire in the small village of Dviete. I spent most of my childhood in Dviete, and this place holds very special memories for me. ©Reinis Hofmanis
Defense infrastructure placed alongside the road. Kārsava. February 2025. ©Reinis Hofmanis
View from a resident’s kitchen window in Goliševa, with the Russian border fence visible just a few hundred meters away. ©Reinis Hofmanis
