Aleksandra Bardas

Sweet Salt of Emptiness.

Once upon a time by the Aral Sea coast the surf was noisy and gulls could be heard. Sitting at the coast one could watch the arriving and departing ships. Back then people did not yet know they would make an irreparable mistake. Today, the coast has become hundreds of kilometers away, turning the seabed into the salty desert of Aralkum strewn with white shells reminiscent of a bygone sea. This story is not only about the disappearance of the Aral Sea, but also about people whose lives are being tested every day and become exhausted. Empty sandy depleted soil is a metaphor. This is a reflection of the state of the human soul of the whole population of the region who lost not only their culture but also the source of life - water. Salt reminds us of unquenchable pain and remorse. All that is left looking at these open spaces is memories and the hope that a new generation can change something for the better. I suggest you walk with me along the bottom of the Aral Sea to feel the atmosphere of emptiness, salt in the air and the suffering of nature.

Aleksandra Bardas

I was born in sunny, warm and hospitable Tashkent. My dad was an artist my mother's architect. My favorite books were definitely the ones that had the most pictures. Even as a kid, the pictures captivated me because they gave me space to dream. My parents had a large archive of self-developed images, and I kept wondering how my perception of the same images changed over time. Since school I photographed to capture certain moments of my life. My interest in photography has changed my entire life forever. I leave my career as a teacher and started my photography studies in Germany at FH Dortmund and am very happy with it. Now I mostly work in documentary or photojournalistic photography because I believe in the power of images and find it important to address certain issues and make them think. I'm always happy when I can somehow help my protagonists through my photography.