Bronze Medal at the Fotoslovo awards 2025

The series was shot in March 2025 near Vorkuta.

The Bolshezemelskaya tundra, stretching beyond the Arctic Circle, is a unique example of liminal spaces. Here begins the transition from the familiar to a silent and mysterious world. These spaces embody transitional states where nature and humanity clash under harsh conditions of existence. The photographs either contain no people or depict them only as images—an attempt to show how powerfully nature can reveal humanity’s place within it, dictating the terms of survival and way of life.

Within this monotony and seemingly endless repetition, an ongoing struggle unfolds, revealing chthonic forces and mysticism. The overarching scene of desolation and grayness serves as a backdrop for profound inner conflict, a yearning for self-knowledge, and even self-destruction.

The tundra landscapes are stripped of a familiar color palette. Here, the power of nature is felt like nowhere else, prompting reflection on our place in the greater world.