Transnistria - Growing Up in a Fictional Country

• Prize
• Photographer
  Fabian Weiss, Estonia
• Website
  http://www.fabianweiss.com

After a four months lasting war, Transnistria declared
independence from Moldova. To this date, it is still not recognized
as a country and considered by the international community as
being part of Moldova. My project explores the current social and
economic situation of the young generation and their perspectives
in a country that, where freedom of press is not guaranteed,
power is corrupt and a horrifying financial situation with an
average monthly salary is less than 150 Euro. Many look afar to
flee from the restrictions of a small country, but the possibilities
are scarce. Moscow and St. Petersburg are one of the only
possibilities, not only because of the language but also because of
Russia being unofficially the main supporter of the Soviet-style
government. Transnistrian university degrees are not widely
accepted and job opportunities are limited inside the small
country. In addition, people are often unable to leave because of
their financial situation.

Fabian Weiss was born 1986 in Ravensburg, Germany. After studying 'Journalism and Communication Studies' and 'Photography and Audio-Visual Media' in Vienna he moved to Denmark for a workshop based course in 'Advanced Visual Storytelling' at the Danish School of Media and Journalism with Anders Petersen and Kent Klich. Now he consolidates his knowledge and practice at the postgraduate program 'MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography' at the London College of Communication.

His documentation of Roma living in Eastern Europe has been exhibited in Vienna, Jihlava (Czech Republic), Sfantu Gheorghe (Romania) and Poprad (Slovakia). With this project he grew a general interest in telling stories of people excluded or suppressed by society. Lately he followed homosexuals in China and depicted their still mainly hidden life and the struggles they are facing from old traditions and modern consequences.

His projects explore the profound cultural changes that occur in our contemporary world. Through personal and intimate stories that fluctuate between documenting daily life to struggling communities he likes to raise awareness for less covered issues, especially for people living on the edge of society. But first and foremost his images are about the individual people and their individual touching stories.

Searching for small and telling gestures, the images he creates are acutely observed portraits within a broader assessment of their surrounding culture. It is their closeness and intimacy that catch attention and create a bond between the observer and the documented people. An emotional connection to create the empathy and a deeper commitment.

Fabian received a scholarship for the 2012 Foundry Workshop, was shortlisted for the Lucie Foundation Emerging Scholarship and nominated for the 2011 exhibition art price 'Saint Leopolds Friedenspreis' at the Stift Klosterneuburg in Austria. In 2009 and received an honorable mention at the 2009 'International Photography Award'.

Awards 2013 Winner CNN Journalist Award 'Foto'
Winner BFF-Förderpreis 2013
Finalist for the European Publishers Award
Top Finalist for the FotoVisura Student Grant
PDN 30 New & Emerging Photographers to Watch Nominee
Nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass
2012 Winner Getty Emerging Talent Award
Winner Austrian Press Prize ‘Objektiv‘, photo series
Pride Photo Award, 1. Prize in category 'Documentary‘
Scholarship for Foundry Photojournalism Workshop
Finalist for the LUCEO Student Project Award
Shortlisted for the Lucie Foundation Emerging Scholarship
Shortlisted for the Ian Parry Scholarship
Shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival
International Photography Award, honorable mention
2011 Nominated for the St. Leopold Peace Prize (Austria)
2010 Shortlisted for the Worldnomads Photography Scholarship
2009 International Photography Award, honorable mention