Andrei Liankevich – Book project: Traditional Belarusian Interiors

Book launch and discussion with the photographer about current working conditions in Belarus.

“Over the past 60 years, Belarus has gone through profound change. Rapid urbanisation has altered the country’s demographic and cultural structures, pushing the traditional Belarusian village to the brink of extinction. Today, only 25% of the population lives in rural areas, and many villages are either depopulated or completely deserted. This project is of great personal significance to me – it is deeply rooted in the memories of my childhood, which I spent in these vanishing villages, surrounded by the warmth of family, the scent of freshly baked bread and the colours of traditional textiles that decorated every corner of the house. These vanishing interiors are not merely physical spaces; they are living archives of memory, heritage and tradition. They are the essence of a world that has shaped me and countless others, a world that is now fading away before our eyes.

This project is about more than just documenting rural decline. It is about feelings. It is grounded in childhood emotions and in the bittersweet nostalgia of revisiting places that once felt alive, full of warmth and a sense of belonging. It is also about the feelings of loss and helplessness that arise when one observes this disappearance over time. Walking through an empty village, hearing nothing but the wind, means feeling the weight of what is being lost – not just places, but also the fabric of what makes us human. There is sadness in this project, but also love – a deep respect for the lives and traditions that have shaped these places.

Whenever I step inside one of these houses, I feel the presence of my own grandparents – those who have already passed away. The silence in these houses is oppressive, filled with the echoes of a life that once was. I remember my grandmother’s hands, worn and strong, embroidering towels late into the evening, and my grandfather telling stories. Their presence filled the house, and their love and care created a world that felt eternal. But now, when I walk through these empty or abandoned houses, I feel a pain in my chest. My grandparents, like so many who lived in these villages, carried within them the traditions, the stories and the soul of the Belarusian countryside. Their loss feels not only personal, but also collective – a loss for the country itself.

The decline of the Belarusian village reflects global trends, but it also has its roots in our unique history – shaped by Soviet collectivisation, the destruction of war and the challenges of the post-Soviet era. These villages are not merely disappearing physically; they are taking with them the stories, values and aesthetics of a way of life that cannot be replaced. Every abandoned house, every discarded photograph serves as a reminder of just how fragile our cultural heritage really is.

More than ten years ago, while working on my book *Pagan*, I began to notice the visual decline of Belarusian villages. The colours of the houses and interiors, the rhythms of daily life, and the walls covered with family photographs were gradually disappearing. Almost every house I visited had its own iconostasis of photographs – pictures of relatives, icons, hand-embroidered towels and paintings. Damask or painted tapestries hung on the walls. Yet with the passing of the older generation, this visual culture is falling into oblivion. Children and grandchildren are decluttering their homes and discarding these symbols of memory, or they are renovating the houses to suit their own tastes and completely erasing the old aesthetic. The vibrant, unique world of the Belarusian village is disappearing, and with it a part of our collective identity.

The Belarusian village seems like an island, a fragile archipelago slowly sinking into the sea. But it is also a place of profound beauty and resilience, shaped by hard work, a connection to the land, and a love for its people.

This project is my way of capturing these feelings and preserving the essence of a world that has shaped me and so many others. It reminds us that, even as the world changes, we must not lose our sense of where we come from.”

— Andrei Liankevich

Das Projekt wird gefördert durch das Staatsministerium für Soziales und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert mit Steuermitteln auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes im Rahmen des Förderprogramms »Wir für Sachsen«.