Major European publishing houses have recently begun adding more Eastern European photographers to their roster. While this is a positive step in the right direction, we still think that some of the best photography books coming out of Eastern Europe today are forgoing the traditional publishing route altogether. In the Republic of Georgia several notable photographers have recently self-published inspiring photography books that deserve our attention. These are the four handmade photography books from Georgia that you need to add to your collection.
1. Frozen Waves by Dina Oganova
“Sometimes kidnapped girls didn’t even know who would become their future husbands. They had no choice… It was a big shame to come back home after kidnapping. Everybody thought they were not virgins anymore. So, who would marry them, who would marry disgraced girls?! Family didn’t want them back, because they had a new ‘owner.’ It was normal in 90’s Georgia. When I grew up, I thought it was over, but at some point I realized that it’s still happening…”
So begins Dina’s Oganova’s newest newest limited edition handmade photography book, Frozen Waves. It tells the harrowing story of bride-napping in the Republic of Georgia with a series of intimate black and white photos.
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2. My Parents Don’t Talk to Me by Giorgi Rodionov
Giorgi Rodionov’s first handmade photography book, My parents don’t talk to me, is part of a larger project focused on a stigmatized past and the communication issues between the generations of parents and children in post-Soviet reality.
“Silence that shouts out loud. We need to talk now and here. The informational vacuum in personal relations lead us to confusion and rootless creations. Those photos that were discovered in a dusty basement in a family house is a representation of an era that has become a shame to be remembered. The last ruling generation of Soviet Georgia has re-closed the iron curtain to block the memories back in time.” -Giorgi Rodionov
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3. Dreams by Vakho Khetaguri
It was too difficult to choose between Vakho Khetaguri’s impressive handmade photography books, so we had to include at least two: Dreams and Once Upon a Time. Dreams consists of portraits taken all around Georgia. A note is attached to each portrait describing the person’s dreams. “First of all I would like for Georgia to be united. My dream is to learn well and to be useful for my country. I want to go to Germany with an exchange program.” It’s a heartwarming book filled with the aspirations of Georgia’s younger generations.
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4. Once Upon a Time by Vakho Khetaguri
Once Upon a Time is another masterful handmade book by Vakho Khetaguri. Filled with dreamy images that fill the viewer with a sense of longing. It is a beautiful ode to nostalgia.
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What are some of your favorite handmade photography books? Let us know in the comments below.
If you would like to secure your handmade photography book from Georgia, you can head over to our online bookshop or visit our gallery at 21 Revaz Tabukashvili, Tbilisi, Georgia. International express shipping via Aramex is available.
Four inspiring handmade photography books from Georgia