✦ Unseen roots ✦

This collection of photographs I took in the summer of 2024 in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, located in the Kuban region. I was born in this city, but in my early childhood, my parents moved to Saint Petersburg, where I spent most of my life.

Throughout my life, I’ve struggled to answer the question of where I’m from. Should I mention the city where I was born or where I spent most of my life? I don’t know myself, and each time "home" refers to a different place.

Most of my family lives in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, but despite this, I feel like a stranger here. These streets, people, and houses are unfamiliar to me, but for some reason, every time I hear about Kuban, I say that I’m from there.

This photo project is an attempt to understand my roots and my connection to the place where I was born.