Kate Nolan
untitled, from the series "Neither"
2011
Series Statement
"Neither" is an exploration into the hearts of young women in Kaliningrad. The first generation to have grown up after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they look to define their identity in this small "island" within Europe. The women I have been living with and sharing with have generously opened up their homes and their minds to allow me to better understand this link between place, identity and history.
The region has had a short but complex history only becoming Russian after WWII and then with the collapse of the Soviet Union, being severed from mainland Russia. This has left Kaliningrad in a fragile position but this fragility is countered by the strong, independent women that have guided me through the stories of this region and the lives of the individual telling me of their dreams and fears. Caught between their strong Russian roots and the new Europe these women search out their place amidst these two worlds.