In 2022, Russia became a dictatorship at war. The invasion of Ukraine triggered the exodus of hundreds of intellectuals and artists from Russia. They publicly condemned the war and their voices are of critical importance.
A new generation of Russian exiles is scattered across Europe and the post-Soviet republics, hoping to come home soon.
The project is a series of portraits of Russian émigrés surrounded by the personal objects they took from home.

By focusing on the personal objects that Russian émigrés took with them when they left their homeland, the project highlights the emotional and psychological toll of displacement and separation from one's cultural roots.

The portraits of the émigrés provide a human face to the conflict and its consequences, and the personal objects they hold or display add a layer of intimacy and depth to the images. The objects can serve as symbols of memory, identity, and resilience, and can help to convey the complex and nuanced experiences of the émigrés.

The fact that the émigrés are intellectuals and artists who publicly condemned the war underscores the importance of freedom of expression and the role of creative individuals in shaping public discourse and challenging oppressive regimes.
Images of this series has won LensCulture Portrait Award in 2023.