In 2023, during the war with Ukraine, Russian government began to look for internal enemies which were declared to be sexual minorities. Eventually they recognized LGBTQIA+ community as extremist. It forced a lot of community members to leave.
The present project displays Russian LGBTQIA+ couples who left to Georgia. The portraits of the couples explore their vulnerable mental state during the current darkest times. All the characters hope to find the right path in the context of the ongoing events by the means of love. Is it possible at all with all these scars that the past leaves behind?
I am a Russian freelance photographer and visual artist based in Istanbul, Turkey working with VICE UK/USA, De Volkskrant, British Journal of Photography, Novaya Gazeta, Meduza, others.
My photographic practice primarily focuses on the exploration of the issues of modern society. With the help of different approaches to portraiture I look at the problems of identity of minorities, gender, health and racial prejudice, ecology and consumerism. I often execute very personal photographic projects exploring my very own inner demons, past and family.
Awards I am the awardee of the number of international contests such as: winner of Istanbul Photo Awards 2022 in Portrait Stories category; Award of Excellence at POYA 2022 in Photographer of the Year Asia category; winner of Bartur Photo Awards 2021 in Unity in Diversity Professional category; Award of Excellence at POYi 2021 in Portrait Series category; winner of Istanbul Photo Awards 2018 in Daily Life Story category; winner of Debuts 2018 photocontest organized by Doc! Photomagazine; 3rd place at Direct Look Photocontest 2018; finalist of Hellerau Portraits Awards 2016, 2017; winner of Luis Valtuena Humanitarian Photography Award 2016 granted by Doctors of the World NGO; others.
