Isabella Petrova

Born in Riga, Latvia in 1992

Biography

I am born in Latvia
I am born in Latvia
Rīga , Latvia
At age 2, my mum divorces my father because of his alcohol problem
At age 2, my mum divorces my father because of his alcohol problem
Rīga , Latvia
At age 4, my grandparents, whom we live with, die, and I am left alone at home
At age 4, my grandparents, whom we live with, die, and I am left alone at home
Rīga , Latvia
Since age 5, my stepfather comes to live with us. I don't accept nor like him and don’t like my mum drinking alcohol with him.
Since age 5, my stepfather comes to live with us. I don't accept nor like him and don’t like my mum drinking alcohol with him.
Rīga , Latvia
At age 6, I go to school and start training in track and field
At age 6, I go to school and start training in track and field
Latvia
At age 7, I stand up for my mum in fights with my stepdad when he tries to raise his hand against her
At age 7, I stand up for my mum in fights with my stepdad when he tries to raise his hand against her
Riga , Latvia
My mum attempts to jump out the window of our 8th floor apartment and I stop her by grabbing her dressing gown
My mum attempts to jump out the window of our 8th floor apartment and I stop her by grabbing her dressing gown
Rīga , Latvia
Since age 8, I am involved in sports and singing and start performing in concerts in front of the whole school
Since age 8, I am involved in sports and singing and start performing in concerts in front of the whole school
Rīga , Latvia
At age 11, I am hit by a car at high speed while crossing the road, and am in a coma with multiple fractures and a concussion, which is the cause of my memory-loss
At age 11, I am hit by a car at high speed while crossing the road, and am in a coma with multiple fractures and a concussion, which is the cause of my memory-loss
Rīga , Latvia
At age 12, I return to sports. As a result of my injuries, I cannot continue physical activity. Mental health issues and weight gain are the reasons why I become bulimic.
At age 12, I return to sports. As a result of my injuries, I cannot continue physical activity. Mental health issues and weight gain are the reasons why I become bulimic.
Rīga , Latvia
At age 13, I try drugs and alcohol for the first time at a summer camp
At age 13, I try drugs and alcohol for the first time at a summer camp
Jūrmala , Latvia
At age 13, a 36-year-old man rapes me at a party and takes my virginity. I never tell anyone and start having panic attacks and paranoia, and in order to forget what happened, start using drugs.
At age 13, a 36-year-old man rapes me at a party and takes my virginity. I never tell anyone and start having panic attacks and paranoia, and in order to forget what happened, start using drugs.
Riga , Latvia
At age 14, I am expelled from school because of frequent drug use, start fighting with my mother and leave home. I live on the street, shoot up amphetamine, and in order to survive, steal food and clothes. I am reported as missing for 4 and a half months.
At age 14, I am expelled from school because of frequent drug use, start fighting with my mother and leave home. I live on the street, shoot up amphetamine, and in order to survive, steal food and clothes. I am reported as missing for 4 and a half months.
Riga , Latvia
At age 15, I’m caught stealing by the police and get sent to a colony for juveniles with drug problems for 1.5 years. I escape and end up on the street again, continue to use drugs and the police puts me on a “Wanted” list. When I get caught, the police returns me to the colony.
At age 15, I’m caught stealing by the police and get sent to a colony for juveniles with drug problems for 1.5 years. I escape and end up on the street again, continue to use drugs and the police puts me on a “Wanted” list. When I get caught, the police returns me to the colony.
Rīga , Latvia
At age 16, during my sentence in the colony, I am diagnosed with Hepatitis A + C and am cured after 2 months of treatment in the hospital
At age 16, during my sentence in the colony, I am diagnosed with Hepatitis A + C and am cured after 2 months of treatment in the hospital
Cēsis , Latvia
At age 17, after my release, I have no place to live because my mother sold her flat and moved to Norway
At age 17, after my release, I have no place to live because my mother sold her flat and moved to Norway
Riga , Latvia
In order to survive on the streets, I continue using and selling drugs. The police arrests me for possession of drugs and I am sentenced to 5 years on probation.
In order to survive on the streets, I continue using and selling drugs. The police arrests me for possession of drugs and I am sentenced to 5 years on probation.
Riga , Latvia
Probation allows me to leave the country and I join my mum in Norway
Probation allows me to leave the country and I join my mum in Norway
Hammerfest , Norway
At age 19, I go to Latvia to visit my father and hear that he is dead. The police registered his death as a suicide but when talking to his neighbors, I learn that he probably was murdered. In the same year, my paternal grandmother dies.
At age 19, I go to Latvia to visit my father and hear that he is dead. The police registered his death as a suicide but when talking to his neighbors, I learn that he probably was murdered. In the same year, my paternal grandmother dies.
Jūrmala , Latvia
For my 19th birthday, I go to Germany for Christmas and fall in love with a Latvian man and we move to Norway together
For my 19th birthday, I go to Germany for Christmas and fall in love with a Latvian man and we move to Norway together
Dortmund , Germany
In Norway, we use synthetic drugs which cause my boyfriend’s heart to stop. I call emergency services, give him a cardiac massage before the ambulance arrives, and he regains consciousness. The police gets alerted and they find drugs and my boyfriend’s fake passport, and we both are arrested. He is deported and I follow him to Latvia. On arrival in Latvia, we manage to escape unseen by Interpol, who is waiting at the airport.
In Norway, we use synthetic drugs which cause my boyfriend’s heart to stop. I call emergency services, give him a cardiac massage before the ambulance arrives, and he regains consciousness. The police gets alerted and they find drugs and my boyfriend’s fake passport, and we both are arrested. He is deported and I follow him to Latvia. On arrival in Latvia, we manage to escape unseen by Interpol, who is waiting at the airport.
Stavanger , Norway
When I am 20, my boyfriend is imprisoned for 12 years, and I fall into a deep depression. I am willing to wait for him, but he ends our relationship because of his love and respect for me; he doesn’t want me to lose 12 years of my life waiting for him.
When I am 20, my boyfriend is imprisoned for 12 years, and I fall into a deep depression. I am willing to wait for him, but he ends our relationship because of his love and respect for me; he doesn’t want me to lose 12 years of my life waiting for him.
Rīga , Latvia
At age 22, I try to commit suicide. I walk towards a speeding train which breaks a short distance away from me, I still remember the sound of the brakes screaming. After this incident, I just want to forget it all and use a lot of drugs.
At age 22, I try to commit suicide. I walk towards a speeding train which breaks a short distance away from me, I still remember the sound of the brakes screaming. After this incident, I just want to forget it all and use a lot of drugs.
Jūrmala , Latvia
At age 23, I get pregnant by a guy from the Latvian mafia. When I am 3 months pregnant, the father of the child is sent to prison for his involvement in a kidnapping. At this time, I live with the mother of the child’s father.
At age 23, I get pregnant by a guy from the Latvian mafia. When I am 3 months pregnant, the father of the child is sent to prison for his involvement in a kidnapping. At this time, I live with the mother of the child’s father.
Jūrmala , Latvia
During the next two and a half years, I feel happy as a mother and spend a lot of time with my daughter
During the next two and a half years, I feel happy as a mother and spend a lot of time with my daughter
Jūrmala , Latvia
After the child’s father is released from prison, he starts disappearing at night, cheats on me, uses cocaine and alcohol and beats me
After the child’s father is released from prison, he starts disappearing at night, cheats on me, uses cocaine and alcohol and beats me
Jūrmala , Latvia
At age 25, I decide to move to Norway to stay with my mum and want to take the baby with me. There, I get two jobs and support my mum.
At age 25, I decide to move to Norway to stay with my mum and want to take the baby with me. There, I get two jobs and support my mum.
Oslo , Norway
At age 26, I try to take my daughter to Norway, but the child’s father makes this impossible. He starts threatening me that he will kill me. At this time the COVID pandemic starts, and I cannot leave Norway and lose contact with my daughter. I become depressed and start using alcohol and drugs again.
At age 26, I try to take my daughter to Norway, but the child’s father makes this impossible. He starts threatening me that he will kill me. At this time the COVID pandemic starts, and I cannot leave Norway and lose contact with my daughter. I become depressed and start using alcohol and drugs again.
Oslo , Norway
At age 27, when invited to go to Latvia for my daughter’s birthday, her father poisons my drink [note: to film her breakdown and make her look incompetent as a mother] and they throw me out of the car in front of my hotel. Back in Norway I write a power of attorney for a lawyer so I can get custody of my daughter. When I find out that my lawyer is bribed by the child’s father and instructed to make it difficult for me to get custody, I become hysterical and lose all hope.
At age 27, when invited to go to Latvia for my daughter’s birthday, her father poisons my drink [note: to film her breakdown and make her look incompetent as a mother] and they throw me out of the car in front of my hotel. Back in Norway I write a power of attorney for a lawyer so I can get custody of my daughter. When I find out that my lawyer is bribed by the child’s father and instructed to make it difficult for me to get custody, I become hysterical and lose all hope.
Riga , Latvia
At ages 28 and 29, my life is made of chaos, stress and crime
At ages 28 and 29, my life is made of chaos, stress and crime
Oslo , Norway
At age 30, I am arrested and sent to prison
At age 30, I am arrested and sent to prison
Kriminalomsorgen Oslo , Oslo , Norway
I turn 31 in prison, am sentenced to 1 year imprisonment but appeal the decision and await judgement
I turn 31 in prison, am sentenced to 1 year imprisonment but appeal the decision and await judgement
Kriminalomsorgen Oslo , Oslo , Norway

The conceptual architecture of TBDWBAJ is based on the investigation of various social spaces, isolated space, cultural space, public space and virtual space. Each of these rooms describes a phase of the project and takes on a different perspective.

THE ISOLATED SPACE

THE PUBLIC SPACE

(no the public space spaces)

THE CULTURAL SPACE