Komi-Land

This is a series of photographs of forgotten Germans who were exiled to the Komi Republic, Russia during and after WWII.  

The region in question is situated west of the Ural Mountains in the far north of the Russian-European plain. I was drawn to this culturally unique region because of its autonomous nature and an interest with the indigenous people that reside there, in particular Russian-Germans who make up a small amount of the population.  

The series is focused in and around German communities such as Syktyvkar, Ezhva, Maksakovka, Sedkyrkesch, Krasny, Zaton, and the industrial and woodworking areas. 

Russian Germans who wished to remain in the Komi, decided to consolidate. They began to band together in places where they could preserve their national identity, culture and language. Years later, Russian Germans struggle to maintain their identity and hold on to traditional values, as younger generations of Russian and German descent integrate.