The theme of the recent photography competition organized by EU Neighbors East and Fotofestival, Poland, and hosted by Tbilisi Photography and Multimedia Museum was Family Connections. The competition was open to professional photography from six countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan Belarus, Georgia Moldova and Ukraine. An international jury selected a shortlist from 400 entries. This included three photographers per country.
Nestan Nizharadze (cofounder of the Museum) hosted the gala evening of the announcement of the winners, which included the projection of all 18 photographers’ series of photos onto large screens. All of the work was very high quality, some in colour, others in black-and-white. All the photographers on the shortlist were also invited. The EU Ambassador in Georgia, His Excellency Pawel Herrczynski, made a speech, and presented the winners with engraved trophies and EUR1000 each.
During his main conversation, the Ambassador stated, “We’re here to celebrate an important competition.” We will award six prizes to photographers from Eastern Partnership countries who have taken the best photos focusing on family. “Family is important for our society, our values and I am very happy that the EU is part of this great journey. I look forward to the celebrations.”
In his congratulatory remarks, he said, “Through the photo contest, we’re proud to showcase the EU’s commitment to fostering culture exchange and promoting photography as a powerful tool for reflection and social change.” The theme of family connections and family values highlights the importance of shared values and the role of family in shaping our society. “Congratulations to all the photographers on their creative and inspirational interpretations.”
The six national winners, their series titles, and short descriptions can be found below:
Armenia – Nazik Armenakyan, “My War (Fragmentary Experience)”. Above all, a mother’s story: the photographer’s personal experience when her son was mobilized.
Azerbaijan, Orkhan Azimov “Remote From Education”. A look at the lives and struggles children in a remote mountainous village of Azerbaijan.
Belarus – Pasha Kritchko, “Belarusian Connections”. Portraits of Belarusians forced into exile due to the events of 2020.
Georgia – Natela Grigalashvili “The Last Days of Georgian Nomads”. A documentary project that explores the lives of nomads in Adjara’s mountains.
Moldova – Katerina Shosheva, “Sem’ya [Family]”. A cross-sectional view of time: intergenerational relationships seen through the eyes of a single family.
Ukraine – Marysia Mianovska “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” Fragments of memories and lives in the urban ghetto – a project dedicated her brother.
The jury was made up of:
Lars Boering is the director of the European Journalism Center Foundation (EJC), and founder of Triggertale.com. Emma Bowkett is a curator for the Financial Times Weekend Magazine, and freelance professional who works with photography in a variety of ways. She was the former artistic director of Cortona On The Move – an international photo festival that focuses on visual narrative. Karolina Gembar is a photographer and researcher whose work focuses on issues such as belonging, migration, changing land and identities, and Milica Saracevic
Arianna Rinaldo said, “I am very honored and grateful to have been a part of the jury.” “It was a chance to see a part of photography that I don’t normally see on a regular basis. The majority of us in photography are focused on Western Europe and the West. This opportunity opened a window into a world we need to explore more.
“There was a wide variety of styles and stories in the works we were able look at. It was a real eye-opener to see how Eastern Europeans express their sense of Family and Connections, a refreshing and surprising view compared to the usual.
“I think this theme is important, especially in this time of history. We’re all coming from the pandemic where the idea of connecting has changed a great deal: we had no choice but to stop connecting,” said she. “So, being able reinterpret it and rethink its meaning is a real challenge.
“The idea of a family is, of course, quite fascinating. We all know what family is, but the works we received for this contest show us that it’s not always what we think. It’s a structure that is more open, versatile, and flexible. I think that these years of confinement, and crisis in relationships among people, has really helped to redefine and recreate the idea of family. Photographers, through their own work, are observing and interpreting the world. They really help us to open our eyes to other situations.”
Karolina Gembar stated, “I’m very impressed by the quality of the work submitted for the contest.” “I’ve not had the chance to see so much work from this particular region before. I noticed two trends. The first is the political engagement and research of many photographers. They are also very socially and politically aware. Another thing is their dedication to their region, and how they work in their locality or community. “I find this to be very valuable.”
The 18 photographers who were shortlisted for the Family Connections contest deserve praise for their interpretation of the theme and the quality of their photographs, which represent their country and their personal lives. I would like to thank Kato Otarashvili for providing me with valuable information and content for this article.
BLOG by Tony Hanmer
Tony Hanmer is a writer and photographer who has been working for GT since 2011. He has lived in Georgia and Svaneti, respectively, since 1999. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/
He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti
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