| Past Exhibition |
 |
| Current | Future |
Archive |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Motherland is a bold visual statement about contemporary Russia, fifteen years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Between July 2004 and August 2005, British photographer Simon Roberts travelled throughout Russia making pictures in over 200 locations and creating one of the most extensive, comprehensive photographic accounts of this vast country by a Westerner.
The resulting images are not clichéd representations of a Russia ground down by poverty and despair; rather, he presents a beautiful and awe-inspiring land, itsdiverse people empowered by a growing optimism and connected by a shared love of the ‘motherland’. Intimate and revealing portraits of contemporary Russians show us a diverse people, united by a sense of common identity, while breathtaking landscapes reveal the complexity and uniqueness of the country.
“A remarkable photo-essay.”
Robert McCrum, The Observer
Simon Roberts was born in London in 1974 and began working as a photographer in 1997. His photo-essays have been widely published throughout the world, including features in Details, Esquire, TheGuardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel and The Sunday Times.
Awards for his work include the Ian Parry Scholarship (London 1998) and the Magenta Foundation Bright Spark Award (Toronto 2006). He was recently selected in the Independent on Saturday Magazine’s ‘Talent Issue’ as one of the rising stars of 2007.
Motherland has been exhibited in Toronto, Lianzhou (China) and at Paris Photo. Simon is represented by The Photographers’ Gallery in London.
Motherland will be published by Chris Boot on 7 March 2007. For orders, please contact bruno@chrisboot.com or visit www.chrisboot.com |
| |
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
All images : © Simon Roberts
Image No. 03 (Above):
Camping with Sasha and Paval, Kamchatka Peninsula, Far East Russia,October 2004
The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of Russia's most isolated regions and is the country’s Eastern most border. During the Soviet era the region was the centre of Russia’s Pacific nuclear submarine fleet due to its proximity to the Western coast of America and was closed to individuals without military permission until 1991.Alexander Jukov (Sasha) prepares dinner for his friend Paval Lipatow, during a camping trip. Paval was born in the Altai and moved to Kamchatka where he worked as an engineer for the state oil company for 30 years. He now runs treks through the volcanic mountains of Kamchatka. Alexander works on the fishing trawlers which fish the Pacific ocean and Bering Sea.
Image No. 02 (Below):
Identical twins, Elena and Vera Karnova, Magadan, Far East Russia, August 2004
Identical twins, Elena and Vera Karnova wait at a bus stop on the outskirts of Magadan. |
| |
