The settlement of Colosova near to the Ukrain border.
Preparing for the ceremony of the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland. The parades, songs, dances and tokens from the Soviet era have turned to today’s memorabilia.
Youngsters often hesitate to start a relationship in their own community. If you bind yourself locally, it is much harder to leave.
Bridesmaids at the shore of the Dniestr river. October is a popular period to get married; still warm like summer and full of beautiful fall colors.
Construction backlog at 25 October street, Tiraspol’s main street.
Photobook at the public library. The parades, songs, dances and tokens from the Soviet era have turned to today’s memorabilia.
Children rehearse at the House of Culture. Every village in Transnistria has still its own House of Culture as an important anchor point for the community. The Houses of Culture were introduced in the early days of the Soviet Union, to aid the "cultural leisure" of Soviet workers and children
Children prepare for 1 May celebration.
Children prepare for 1 May celebration.
Photo of schoolclass of 1972-1973 at a countryside school. Due to migration, tthis school only has 33 pupils.
Growing up in Transnistria is challenging. The opportunities are unequal. Due to continued economic hardship many parents have migrated (in 2015 15 per cent of the working population left the region permanently).
Doing homework. Rural schools are running empty. Some classes only have 2 students.
Mother and son get off the bus at a local village shop. The countryside depopulates the fastest.
Countryside family.
Farewell in the youth disco at the House of Culture. Youngsters are leaving their hometown massively to study in Chisinau, Moscow, Bucharest or Kiev. Living standards abroad act as a pull factor.
On the way to Chisinau.
Today is the time of youngsters. They long for life. Their today is forever hopeful, yet rooted. When talking with young Transnistrians and their parents, mostly simple curiosity was enough to establish contact. Interest was met with cordiality and warmth that made me wonder about their resilience.
But tomorrow might be another country. Youngsters get glimpses on the Internet and in stories of their family members who have made home in Italy, Germany or elsewhere. At the same time, on the verge of existence, the families who stay live with a strong community feeling. They take well care of each other, because little can be expected from the state. For youngsters an unavoidable internal confict arises: Should I stay or should I go?
I look at the pictures I have done up to now. I wonder. Dilapidated houses. The intense colors. An excited disco night. Folk dance in the House of Culture. A military event. An empty busstop. My feelings are contradictory but the images are clear. I am by far not done yet. I will need to return again.