Immediately after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, direct contact with people in Russia became nearly impossible. Personal meetings carried considerable risks, leaving remote photography as the only way to accompany Russian citizens photographically. With the help of the Shutterapp application, Oxana Guryanova was able to access the cameras of her protagonists’ smartphones, take portraits, and conduct interviews about the Russian invasion of Ukraine between March and July 2022.
The project was later turned into a photobook in 2023 and produced in April 2024. It reflects the artist’s personal confrontation with the war, a subject that deeply affects her as someone of Russian descent with Ukrainian roots. The work captures feelings of pain, despair, and hopelessness, while giving voice to the realities of those still living in Russia.
The book was nominated for the 2024 German Photobook Award (Deutscher Fotobuchpreis) and received the Bronze Medal.
