My Russia

My family grew up during the Soviet Regime – closed borders, almost no communication outside the USSR, pretty different to the western world - and I was born right when this all collapsed.

We left Moscow when I was 5 years old and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been back since. An army draft awaits should I go back now, though before the laws changed I had a chance to visit my family. Having not seen them since the late 2000s, I saw and experienced not only a generational gap, but a massive cultural one too, and knew it would be important to document.

This is my family, and this is my Russia.

Lucy

Documenting time with my partner Lucy.

Agara

In the mountains of Georgia, 20km north of the Turkish border is the village of Agara.

Predominantly a country of Christian Orthodox, the Muslim villagers carved out an identity for themselves even during the Soviet Union. Now under 200 people live in the village and their way of life is slowly fading away. After finishing their studies in the village, many of the youth choose to move toward the inner-cities for work and a more modern way of life.

This projects explores the lives of those who chose to stay behind.

Kinbaku

Kinbaku (緊縛) is the art of Japanese Rope Bondage.

During Edo era Japan, the Samurai class used rope in combat to restrain criminals and prisoners of war in a martial art called hojojutsu, a brutal practice that bears little resemblance to the kinbaku it evolved to be today. With consent, people are tied up and relinquish full control to the ‘rigger’.

This project explores both the mental space people escape to when being tied up, and the art of the ropework itself.

Street

A selection of photos taken on the street.

Scrapbook

Various pages from scrapbooks I’ve kept over the years