Series - FotoSlovo 2026 - Category « Conceptual photography »

In this project, I explore the theme of individual memory and its connection to collective memory.

I use archival photographs of my family from the 1980s. Through collage, I combine images from the past and the present.

In the photographs, my friend and I are walking through the places where we often spent time as children, encountering our childhood selves as well as my loved ones.

By coloring black-and-white childhood photographs, I bring childhood memories to life and begin to connect more deeply with my inner child. Color has drawn out tactile sensations and emotions from my memory.

Archival photographs can serve as a bridge between individual memory and collective history. The old photos capture the bygone Soviet era, while the children's appearance reflects the cultural and social contexts in which we grew up.

Exploring the theme of memory through archival photographs influences the formation of cultural identity: it fosters an awareness of one’s roots, a desire to learn about one’s family history, and a wish to pass it on to the next generation.