Russia unvarnished

VIEW CANADIAN FOTOGRAFA1 May, Labor Day in Toronto in the Distillery District (Mill St. 55, bldg. 59 Pikto) opened an exhibition-known Canadian photographer Donald Weber (Donald Weber), who recently returned from a trip to Russia, Ukraine and Georgia . The exhibition called «The Drunken Bride, Russia Unveiled». The exhibition is very unusual in the genre of documentary. Rusty "Lada" in a snowdrift, ex-prisoners with tattoos, cemeteries in the field of Stalin's camps, a staircase, which has killed, the drunken bride with a cigar in his mouth ... I know Donald was almost 5 years and so decided to ask him some questions, the answers to which I think will interest readers and newspaper .- Donald, why Russia and Ukraine? - I was born in 1973, and when I was a teenager in the world has seen many incredible events. Chernobyl, Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost, the beginning of the end of communism with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the opening of eastern borders, the execution of Ceausescu (which I saw on TV just before Christmas), the shooting of the White House and, finally, Boris Yeltsin, standing on the tank. These images and moments in history is imprinted in my mind just when I was growing up. In fact, I grew up with that history, and feel obliged to tell about it through the lens of the camera. - Tell me, Donald, how did you get to the North, in Vorkuta, in Sakhalin, in the Komi republic? Who let you in the place of the Gulag? - I work as a journalist of international editions, but this project I have done by itself. I received a grant from the Guggenheim Foundation (Guggenheim Foundation), which allowed me to work on the project «Russia Unveiled» a year. I went to Siberia to train with his friend Vova. It was very difficult, extremely cold, even in March and April. When we arrived in the Komi Republic, I met with the local community and met with representatives of the society "Memorial". - In 2002, I wrote a report from the American Conference of Slavic, where William Rosenberg (William Rosenberg) said that Russia has the persistence of trauma - Stalinism. What you said about the Russians those terrible times? - I saw that a generation of people my age and younger do not have a clue about the thirties, did not know. I found that the Ukrainians are much more aware of their history, perhaps because the current leadership is well aware that it was under Stalin. But in Russia, know less. I was really surprised, shocked at his ignorance of Russian history, as it is tragic and cruel it was. I often ask friends: Who is the Kirov? Kamenev? Ezhov? Berries? What do you know about the NKVD and the gulag? It appeared that they knew only what was in their official textbooks. I can not blame them for lack of knowledge, but they know too little. Even for Yeltsin did not know! Of course, the older generation knows more ... Unfortunately, in today's Russia there is little discussion of its past. Russians consider Stalin a strong, tough, demanding - supposedly just what Russia needs now. But if you look at what he did and how he did it, I think most Russian did not agree with this statement .- Donald, do you take pictures of ex-prisoners, marginalized, people unsettled in life. What are you interested in? How they responded to the invitation to be photographed? - You know, Zeki very proud of her body and those who they are. There was no difficulty. When I photograph someone, I do not blame them, and people appreciate it. - Donald, but as you define your style and genre? - I'm a photographer, documentarian, and this means that I take what I see. But I also take pictures that I feel that enters my mind, my body, and I react to it. I earn a living in journalism, and the important thing here is personal work plan, which is to respond to the idea or concept. In this case, I react to Russia and take pictures, in fact, Authority .- As a psychotherapist, I talk with people who have problems. If I see a dark spot of consciousness, then I do not only highlight their rights to "light" of his mind, but also shows a way out of the impasse in which it lies. What would you suggest that Russia and Ukraine, which you captured on film? - I would suggest that to understand the history, read, know and just accept it. You can not go forward without knowing what it was before. Russia is an incredibly complex, multicultural, cruel. But it is also a place of genuine warmth, light and forgiveness. Sometimes I think that Russia will be better if it recognizes its past - at least bad is something good. Music and culture which only cost - this is a global value. But Stalin and his henchmen were among the most vicious criminals in history. We must learn from this lesson and move on .- You said that after nine visits to Georgia, you were hard to get to Russia, you even have raised the "black list". You're not afraid to be in confrontation with Russia - the heir of the Stalinist regime? - I would not want to answer this question ... Russia is becoming more difficult to document the country, even if you Rossiyanin .- And the traditional question: what are your plans? - I have several unfinished projects. I'm afraid that I'll never understand the Russian soul: I am not Slav ... But I would like to understand it ... And this desire compels me to shoot what I shoot in places where byvayu.Vystavka Donald Weber will last until May 31. On Saturday, May 23, from 14 to 16 hours, a press conference photographer Donald Weber, who dedicated his exhibition "Russia without embellishment, which takes place at PIKTO, Inc. Distillery District, 55 Mill St. Bldg. 59-103, TorontoT. 416-203-3443