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GRADUATE
PHOTOGRAPHY
ONLINE 2016

Jadwiga Brontē

Invisible People of Belarus

Belarus, located in the far-flung reaches of Eastern Europe is the last dictatorship on the continent and for some is still considered to be part of Russia. This is a place where the president, Alexander Lukashenko is seen as an unchallenged, fearsome and almost 'God-like' figure. Belarusians still fear the KGB and their ever-watchful eye. This is very much a place where 'Soviet' mentality is still the norm. 'Invisible People of Belarus' documents the lives of disabled people and Chernobyl victims living in governmental institutions called 'Internats' which are something between an asylum, orphanage and hospice. The government has created Internats to separate Chernobyl victims and disabled children from other healthier orphans and to keep them hidden from society. These are places where tens of thousands of people spend their entire lives. Disability is not understood in Belarus, abandoning, or 'giving them away' is easier than being exiled from the local community. 'Invisible People of Belarus' focus on disabled people who are physically or mentally more able then the rest of the residence. These photos are a story of those people as human beings; as people who suffer and struggle against injustice everyday life; and as people who look after each other, build long lasting friendships, and even fall in love even within an environment that is far from civilized life. These invisible people stay invisible. There may be nobody to remember them after all, and a picture might be the only proof of their existence.

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‘‘Memory’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. This photo of this ‘mural-like’ looking old picture of a woman, mother of a ‘resident’ was taken in one of the ‘Internats’. It is rare that patients have pictures of their parents, as most of were abandoned just after birth.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Free Labour’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Disabled women working in a field. Institutions are partly self-sufficient. Patients are forced to work in fields, clean and cook.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘‘Lyosha’ Gomel Region, Belarus 2016. This severely autistic boy is very active and inpatient, however in front of a camera he would calm down immediately. He loved the flash light and would pose perfectly still until the light would fire.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Cell’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Room/cell for dangerous patients who are separated from the rest for security reasons. There has been incident’s when patients have killed another whilst sharing cells.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Friends’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Ex-policemen and his friend during an evening activity time. This boy had Electroconvulsive therapy before coming to this institution.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Vision Panel’ Minsk District, Belarus 2015. Some of the older ‘residents’ are locked in a small room without windows. The tiny vision panel in the door is all they have.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Sveta’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. The aftermath from Chernobyl has not yet passed is Belarus. Every year children are born with mental and physical deficiencies from the disaster of 1986. People still live in contaminated zones or carry ‘genetic marks’ from the past generation.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Beds’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Room with multiple rows of beds. Couples have no privacy, residents are divided by sex and sleep in different rooms.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication

‘‘Memory’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. This photo of this ‘mural-like’ looking old picture of a woman, mother of a ‘resident’ was taken in one of the ‘Internats’. It is rare that patients have pictures of their parents, as most of were abandoned just after birth.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Free Labour’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Disabled women working in a field. Institutions are partly self-sufficient. Patients are forced to work in fields, clean and cook.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘‘Lyosha’ Gomel Region, Belarus 2016. This severely autistic boy is very active and inpatient, however in front of a camera he would calm down immediately. He loved the flash light and would pose perfectly still until the light would fire.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Cell’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Room/cell for dangerous patients who are separated from the rest for security reasons. There has been incident’s when patients have killed another whilst sharing cells.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Friends’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Ex-policemen and his friend during an evening activity time. This boy had Electroconvulsive therapy before coming to this institution.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Vision Panel’ Minsk District, Belarus 2015. Some of the older ‘residents’ are locked in a small room without windows. The tiny vision panel in the door is all they have.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Sveta’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. The aftermath from Chernobyl has not yet passed is Belarus. Every year children are born with mental and physical deficiencies from the disaster of 1986. People still live in contaminated zones or carry ‘genetic marks’ from the past generation.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Beds’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Room with multiple rows of beds. Couples have no privacy, residents are divided by sex and sleep in different rooms.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication

‘‘Memory’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. This photo of this ‘mural-like’ looking old picture of a woman, mother of a ‘resident’ was taken in one of the ‘Internats’. It is rare that patients have pictures of their parents, as most of were abandoned just after birth.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Free Labour’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Disabled women working in a field. Institutions are partly self-sufficient. Patients are forced to work in fields, clean and cook.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘‘Lyosha’ Gomel Region, Belarus 2016. This severely autistic boy is very active and inpatient, however in front of a camera he would calm down immediately. He loved the flash light and would pose perfectly still until the light would fire.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Cell’ Minsk Region, Belarus 2016. Room/cell for dangerous patients who are separated from the rest for security reasons. There has been incident’s when patients have killed another whilst sharing cells.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Friends’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Ex-policemen and his friend during an evening activity time. This boy had Electroconvulsive therapy before coming to this institution.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Vision Panel’ Minsk District, Belarus 2015. Some of the older ‘residents’ are locked in a small room without windows. The tiny vision panel in the door is all they have.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Sveta’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. The aftermath from Chernobyl has not yet passed is Belarus. Every year children are born with mental and physical deficiencies from the disaster of 1986. People still live in contaminated zones or carry ‘genetic marks’ from the past generation.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication‘‘Beds’ Gomel District, Belarus 2015. Room with multiple rows of beds. Couples have no privacy, residents are divided by sex and sleep in different rooms.’ - Jadwiga  Brontē - London College of Communication

Current Course:

London College of Communication  MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

Christopher Bethell  • Jadwiga  Brontē  • Caro  Ray •

Courses:

University of Brighton
MA Photography

Leeds College of Art
MA Creative Practice

London College of Communication
MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

Plymouth University
MA Photography

Plymouth University
MFA Photography

Royal College of Art
MA Photography

University of South Wales
MA Documentary Photography

Ulster University
MA Photography

University of Westminster
MA Photographic Studies

Categories:

Documentary/Photojournalism

Pages:12

Landscape

Pages:1

Portraiture

Pages:1

Staged/Constructed

Pages:12

Urban/Suburban Landscape

Pages:1