synopsis
“Jasper Bastian’s Gandras is a poignant and enchanting journey that chronicles rural life along the border in post-Soviet Belarus and Lithuania. Amidst a place where families have been unjustly torn apart, Bastian’s photographs remind us of the enduring spirit of resilience.” — Matthew Genitempo
“Through beautiful photographs and design, Gandras renders an emotionally moving portrait of a people, their place and the political situation they are living through." — Barbara Bosworth
Gandras: Land of the White Stork depicts what remains of rural life in two post-Soviet countries where only birds can travel freely across the border.
The border between Belarus and Lithuania was once little more than an insignificant, thin line on a map. The bonds of communal life were strong despite their national diversity. Families often intermarried, creating a common social identity. With the erection of the European external border between Lithuania and Belarus in 2004, many of these border villages were divided. Families were torn apart. Spouses, siblings, and close friends now live an entire world away, although their houses are only a few meters on the other side of the border.
Each year, White Storks (the national bird of both Belarus and Lithuania) herald the coming of spring as they flock northward over the border from Belarus into Lithuania to nest and raise their young. Villagers hope a stork family will nest nearby, bringing new life and harmony to the region. Those who remain in the villages along the Lithuanian border long for the ‘good old days’ when the borders were open and the Soviet collectives were still in operation. They remember a time when wedding music and the sounds of children filled the air. They long for renewal.
technical information
Publisher : Charcoal Press
2022
Dimensions : 34,5 x 28,5 cm
96 pages
2022
Dimensions : 34,5 x 28,5 cm
96 pages
about Jasper Bastian
Jasper Walter Bastian is a German-American photographer. He holds an MA in photography from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Dortmund, and studied photojournalism at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. Applying diverse visual strategies, Bastian’s photographic work addresses modern concepts of territory and the intricate relationship between identity and place.
In spring 2023, his first monograph, "Gandras - Land of the White Stork," was published by Charcoal Press. His photographs have also been featured in The New Yorker, Financial Times Weekend Magazine, The Washington Post, and Die Zeit, among others.
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book in my collection
Publisher : Charcoal Press
2022
Dimensions : 34,5 x 28,5 cm
96 pages
1st edition - 1000 copies
2022
Dimensions : 34,5 x 28,5 cm
96 pages
1st edition - 1000 copies