Lisa, a volunteer, with a donkey on a walk. She has been at Svetlana Village for nearly two years. She worked in the bakery, took care of the donkey and worked on the farm. Young people from different countries often come to live and work in the village. ©Mary Gelman.
Russia/Armenia
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Mary Gelman

Contributing Photographer

Mary Gelman is a Russian queer photographer, visual storyteller, and producer.

After graduating with a degree in sociology, Mary became involved in photography. She often explores themes such as identity, trauma, vulnerability, and resilience, and seeks to challenge stereotypes and prejudices. She also focuses on life and the ideology of alternative communities and different social groups facing discrimination. The most important part of her practice is diving deeper into the topics and interactions with people, where empathy, trust, and understanding are significant.

Gelman has won several different awards, including the World Press Photo, Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Pictures of the Year, and Istanbul Photo Awards, amongst others. Her work has been published in TIMEThe Washington PostLe MondeDie ZeitThe New York Times, and more.

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