Portrait Series

After a full-scale Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with the growing disagreement of Russians with the political regime and their desire to leave the homeland, the number of marriages has drastically increased. For people in a relationship, it has become a big problem to relocate together because of possible difficulties with getting visas and residence permits. To simplify emigration, some couples decided to get married. That decision was due to several reasons. Simplification of bureaucratic red tape was one of them, but not the only reason. If one of the spouses relocates to another country, the other one can apply for family reunification. This option is not possible if the couple's relationship is not legalized. The next reason was the wave of anti-war protests. Since February 24, 2022, according to OVD-info (human rights organization that helps detainees), there were >16,000 detentions for participation in protests and >2,300 cases of "discrediting the army" under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). Only the legal spouses has the right for long meetings in prison and are allowed not to testify against each other in a court of law. The last but not the least reason was the need for support and a sense of security in such a hard historic period. The project "I'll take you away" consists of some portraits of newlyweds who decided to get married and emigrate together after the outbreak of the full-scale war. The couples are photographed in their wedding outfit against the background of the Russian landscape. They are separated from it by a black photo backdrop, which symbolizes their future break with the Motherland. Some of the heroes have already left the country, some are still collecting documents and preparing for the upcoming emigration.

Award of Excellence

I’ll Take You Away

Marina Sycheva
Independent
Russia

Marina Sycheva was born in 1989 in Russia, village Shebunino, Sahalin. She is living and working in Moscow. She learned in Saint Petersburg University of Cinema and TV to the faculty of directing documentary films. Her films were on Russian film festivals. Her photos were exhibited at group exhibitions and published in the media. Currently she is documentary photograph. Ended the school of contemporary photo «Docdocdoc», class of Mikhail Domozhilov. She she is interested in social themes, war and world crisis, individual people stories. contests and awards: CPOY 77 Team Picture Story Award of Excellence: Kirov region

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