Women's handbags have always been a mystery to me. As a kid, I was convinced that my mom had to carry around all sorts of magical items in case she needed to save the world. So driven by curiosity, I spent the couple of months wandering around my home town St. Petersburg (Russia), asking every woman I met to "show me what's in your bag." Some thought I was a mugger, some thought I was insane, and some complied. I also asked them to let me snap their ID photos. The combination of each portrait and the subject's personal items gives a striking first impression of who these Russian women are.
I am a freelance photographer and visual artist based in Saint-Petersburg, Russia working with National Geographic Russia, VICE UK/USA, De Volkskrant, Takie Dela, others. My photographic practice primarily focuses on the exploration of the issues of modern society. With the help of different visual languages and forms I look at problems of identity of minorities, gender, health and racial prejudice, ecology and consumerism. I often execute very personal photographic projects exploring my very own inner demons, past and family.
