Everyone we meet in the northern Albanian town of Bajram Curri has stories of a brother, a sister, a cousin, a friend who has left in search of a better life. Unemployment in Albania is widespread. Remote northern towns like this one have been disproportionately affected. Driven by desperate poverty and a sense of hopelessness for the future, more than a million Albanians (mostly men of working age) have left, hoping to find opportunities abroad. This is the story of those who have remained. Portraits of ordinary people I encountered on the street and and the world they live in.
Mieke is a Dutch and Canadian Photographic Artist living in London. Her work explores themes of intimacy, longing and connection. She is known for her atmospheric lighting and surreal perspectives. Her images are described as moody, almost painterly, with an underlying sense of unease. Her work is held in private collections and exhibited internationally. She has recently had Solo Shows, ‘STILL”, in London and ‘Lost Society | Looking In Through Glass’ at the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney, 2021.
