STOP THIS BALL, I WANT OUT… 

Once upon a time we wanted to emigrate. To Australia. We were not allowed - the parents had not expired secrecy mode. Travel documents were taken back at the Lubyanka and expenses reimbursed and we were kindly asked not to try such a deeds nearest some years, I stay in Russia…

After it was very bad - devastation, defaulted, bread only for coupons (all the pluses of American-style democracy), and we were not able to get Russian citizenship in the best traditions of democracy a la Yeltsin (we are ethnical Russians like all other Russians, born in USSR even on territory of Russian Federation). We decided to leave Russia for Argentina. While we collected documents, passed medical examinations, etc. in Argentina happens Revolution, I stay in Russia…

Next we have carefully thought about retirement in Greece. Found a cheap house there and came to meet with the owner. I made all needed Greek tax identification certificates and agreed about the deal.  The day before my child was hospitalized with rotavirus (with me of-course)... So we came back to Moscow with hope to return in month-two and finished, but in Greece happens economical cryses and after my old family crazes, so the idea died.

I stay in Russia…

Most recently, I thought that would not be bad year or two to live in Austria with my husband... I have thought - would be interesting - different culture, opportunity to improve language ... And for him it would be much more useful. In February I went to Austria for a month to start to live there... And what we have at the moment - The Third World War…

As if something is holding me in Russia... In general, I thought and decided - maybe I have such a fate? And looking to craziness of the world blaming Russia and Russians in all the sins may be it is for the best. It seems that I am living in the best place of the world and my Destiny was just care me to noticed it…

Generally speaking, I do not know whether there is a connection but again if I'm staying, may be there would be now end of the crises  in USA and they will not have to compete with Russia on the natural resourses market... and will become peace in the world...

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BEACH MUSIC #2

A different beach, a different sea…but the same feelings.

July 2014. Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer, Carmague, France. 

WHEN YOU HIT A WALL, JUST KICK IT IN…

Two weeks ago we where attending the Opening week of Les Rencontres d'Arles again. Quite an expierence. Sometimes a strange one. Ok, everybody has his own taste, I know very well that my work is not at all part of the mainstream, part of what is called "contemporary" (whatever this may mean...). But if there are about 50 exhibitions (we visited not all of them) and you can hardly find two or three you like, well then there must be something wrong. For me this year Arles has moved so much in the direction of "Zeitgeist" that there not much left over of what i would call „decent“ photography...

Many "Experts" are complaining that the market for art photography has completly broken down, that galleries are struggeling to survive. Well, for me that is no wonder if you look at the shortlist of the awards presented in Arles, if you look who has won e.g. the Photobook Award, the "Best of Portfolio Review" etc. If i would be a collector I wouldn't buy one single piece. Yes, it may be that in the art market "the name" is counting a lot. But at the end even collectors which are following this trend, should not get crunch only but at least some basic quality. Imho.

It is time to kick this wall in, it is time to give art photography the value back that it deserves. With quality. Not with rubbish...

NIGHTMARES...

THE CLOSEST THING OF WHO I AM #2

Photography as a means for raising metaphysical questions and exploring psychological narratives…

More "adventures" of my friend Harvey…

ZEN PHOTOGRAPY

Playing around with textures and some filters. Trying to transform the feelings at the moment of exposure into the final picture. At the end the bottom line of creating art. At least for me…

BORDERLINES [II]

Day 4

After spending the night in Yekaterinburg we drove along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains southwards to the plains of the South Ural. After Chelyabinsk the landscape was changing fast…

Long straight roads, leading through the steppe, brought us to the industrial city of Magnetogorsk. Located on the extreme southern extent of the Ural Mountains by the Ural River, it was named for the Magnitnaya Mountain that was almost pure iron.  

Still the largest iron an steel works in Russia: Magnetogorsk

Although the iron ore extraction began already in 1759, the rapid development of Magnitogorsk stood at the forefront of the Five-Year Plans in the 1930s. Members of the Komsomol, the youth division of the Communist Party, constructed the town (which has today about 400.000 inhabitants) and the iron and steel works, which are still today the largest in Russia.

In 1937 the town was declared a closed city (a status that was removed only after 50 years during peristroiska).

Komsomol Monument in Yekaterinburg

The Order of Lenin for Magnetogorsk

The city played an important role during World War II because it supplied much of the steel for the Soviet war machine, earning an "Order of Lenin", the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union. Today, with the depletion  of the substantial local iron-ore reserves, magnetogorsk has to import raw materials.

Day 5

The River Ural, which is dividing Magnetogorsk, is in this part of the country the borderline between Europa and Asia. So when going down to the south we had to swing back and forth the two continents for a few times…

Driving for about two hours through the rural countryside we reached the ancient place of Arkaim.

Arkaim is the center of the socalled "Land of the Cities", within the borders there is a compact group of fortified settlements of the Bronze Age. It is called a "proto-city" which had its own alternative way of development which was different in many aspects from other routes of a civilization. The site is generally dated to the 17th century BC. Earlier dates, up to the 20th century BC, have been proposed.

The Arkaim archaeological site

Since its discovery, Arkaim has attracted public and media attention in Russia, from a broad range of the population, including esoteric, New Age and pseudoscientific organizations. It is said to be the most enigmatic archaeological site within the territory of Russia.  The similarity of latitude, date, and size to Stonehenge made it to a popular place especially on June 21 of every year…