“Why Was I Born in Russia” was selected for inclusion in “DIY: Photographers & Books” exhibition curated by Barbara Tannenbaum, Curator of Photography at The Cleveland Museum of Art (August 11 - December 30, 2012).
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With “Why was I born in Russia” photographer Yury Toroptsov invites viewers to follow him on a trip to his native region of Vladivostok in the Far Eastern Russia. The book contains three sections: myth, reality and fiction and features the following photo series (1) Grodekovo (2) The House of Baba Yaga (3) Dora.
http://www.toroptsov.com
Born in 1974 in a small rural community near Vladivostok, Yury Toroptsov left his native Russia in 1998 to study at the New School for Social Research in New York after having won a prestigious scholarship.
Nourished by his Far-Eastern origins, American travels and the current residence in Europe, Yury Toroptsov keeps at the core of his work what constitutes a common denominator for those distant cultures: people and their identity and the permanence of myths. Memories, metamorphosis, profane and sacred are the recurring themes in his photographs.
In 2008 he was given a solo show at the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie in Paris. His series, "The House of Baba Yaga" was shown at Paris Photo in 2008. In 2009 Toroptsov exhibited at the Rencontres d'Arles. His work has been exhibited in various group shows in Paris where he now lives.
toroptsov says
Thank you, Kotryna!
posted at 07:27am Jun 10 PST
kotrynaula says
Very touching and unusual project. Found it very easy to relate, being from a former USSR country myself- love the balance of fiction and reality!
posted at 03:17am Jun 10 PST
toroptsov says
Спасибо, Heiko!
posted at 02:18am Jun 07 PST
HeikoKrause says
Отличная книга.
posted at 02:01am Jun 07 PST
toroptsov says
Спасибо, Роман!
posted at 12:40am Jun 07 PST
runner16 says
Хорошо сделано! Про Бабу Ягу особенно удачно (ночные снимки и story))) Congrats!
posted at 10:58pm Jun 06 PST