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Sergei Stroitelev

Photographer

Sergei Stroitelev

In Limbo

Nowadays, around 200-300 refugees from the African continent still continue to migrate to the EU weekly. Refugees are desperately buying expensive seats in huge rubber boats from mafia and sailing towards the coasts of the Southern Italy. On board are young men and minors who are looking for a new home in Europe. For them Italy is the land of dreams.

Unfortunately the reality is not so pleasant. Upon arrival to Reggio newcomers have to spend around a week at the port. From there they are transported to the temporary detention camps which are rather different places - a gym, a hotel, an abandoned school or even a former prison where refugees would spend several years whilst trying to get the documents needed to stay in the country. Regardless of the living conditions, the life of men turned into a slow expectation of the results of consideration of their residency permit applications and unfortunately nobody could guarantee any chances. The life in limbo in the land of dreams began.

Sergei Stroitelev

I am a Russian freelance photographer and artist based in Germany. My photographic practice primarily focuses on the exploration of the issues of modern society. With the help of different visual languages and forms I look at the problems of identity of minorities, prejudice on the basis of race, religion, gender and sexual orientation, consequences of the conflicts and natural disasters. I often execute very personal photographic projects exploring my very own inner demons, past and family. I am the awardee of the number of international contests such as: NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Bartur Photo Awards, Pictures of the Year International, Pictures of the Year Asia, Istanbul Photo Awards, Luis Valtuena Humanitarian Photography Award and many more. I left Russia on the 4th of March 2022, after the start of the war in Ukraine. I was working with non-state controlled media so it was unsafe for me to stay in the country due to the war censorship. I am currently based in Berlin, Germany.