Patrick Bienert—The Kalderash
Patrick Bienert is a German photographer, who works on long-term projects of documentary photography. He studied photography at the Staatliche Lehranstalt für Fotografie in Munich and is now based in Paris. His projects are grounded on cultures and identity in relation to the history and its traces between the land and its inhabitants. He predominantly documents youth culture and transformation on the borders of Eastern Europe. Bienert has published the books Wake up Nights (2017) about the young nightlife culture in Ukraine, East End of Europe (2020) about a pro-European generation in Georgia, Happy Springs (2023) forms a collective portrait of being young in Ukraine. His fourth book Armenia (2024) brings together a collection of images reflecting on identity and fragments of collective memory.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Kalderash are one of the more traditional Roma groups, historically known for their skills as coppersmiths and metalworkers. Originating from modern-day Romania, many migrated to surrounding Balkan countries and beyond. While the Roma were largely nomadic in the past, the Kalderash have now become mostly settled. After the fall of the Soviet Union, with industrial infrastructure left in decay across Eastern Europe, the Kalderash saw the potential in the available metals. Some were able to make significant profits in the unregulated commodity markets of the early post-communist era. This economic shift led to a distinctive architecture, particularly in places like Buzescu, Romania, where lavish mansions line the streets. The Kalderash have preserved many of their old traditions and crafts, such as the making of cazane, traditional copper stills used in fruit brandy production, and the practice of witchcraft.
SPECIFICATIONS
Archival pigment print
Edition of 3 + 1 AP
35 x 28 cm
Patrick Bienert is a German photographer, who works on long-term projects of documentary photography. He studied photography at the Staatliche Lehranstalt für Fotografie in Munich and is now based in Paris. His projects are grounded on cultures and identity in relation to the history and its traces between the land and its inhabitants. He predominantly documents youth culture and transformation on the borders of Eastern Europe. Bienert has published the books Wake up Nights (2017) about the young nightlife culture in Ukraine, East End of Europe (2020) about a pro-European generation in Georgia, Happy Springs (2023) forms a collective portrait of being young in Ukraine. His fourth book Armenia (2024) brings together a collection of images reflecting on identity and fragments of collective memory.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Kalderash are one of the more traditional Roma groups, historically known for their skills as coppersmiths and metalworkers. Originating from modern-day Romania, many migrated to surrounding Balkan countries and beyond. While the Roma were largely nomadic in the past, the Kalderash have now become mostly settled. After the fall of the Soviet Union, with industrial infrastructure left in decay across Eastern Europe, the Kalderash saw the potential in the available metals. Some were able to make significant profits in the unregulated commodity markets of the early post-communist era. This economic shift led to a distinctive architecture, particularly in places like Buzescu, Romania, where lavish mansions line the streets. The Kalderash have preserved many of their old traditions and crafts, such as the making of cazane, traditional copper stills used in fruit brandy production, and the practice of witchcraft.
SPECIFICATIONS
Archival pigment print
Edition of 3 + 1 AP
35 x 28 cm
Patrick Bienert is a German photographer, who works on long-term projects of documentary photography. He studied photography at the Staatliche Lehranstalt für Fotografie in Munich and is now based in Paris. His projects are grounded on cultures and identity in relation to the history and its traces between the land and its inhabitants. He predominantly documents youth culture and transformation on the borders of Eastern Europe. Bienert has published the books Wake up Nights (2017) about the young nightlife culture in Ukraine, East End of Europe (2020) about a pro-European generation in Georgia, Happy Springs (2023) forms a collective portrait of being young in Ukraine. His fourth book Armenia (2024) brings together a collection of images reflecting on identity and fragments of collective memory.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Kalderash are one of the more traditional Roma groups, historically known for their skills as coppersmiths and metalworkers. Originating from modern-day Romania, many migrated to surrounding Balkan countries and beyond. While the Roma were largely nomadic in the past, the Kalderash have now become mostly settled. After the fall of the Soviet Union, with industrial infrastructure left in decay across Eastern Europe, the Kalderash saw the potential in the available metals. Some were able to make significant profits in the unregulated commodity markets of the early post-communist era. This economic shift led to a distinctive architecture, particularly in places like Buzescu, Romania, where lavish mansions line the streets. The Kalderash have preserved many of their old traditions and crafts, such as the making of cazane, traditional copper stills used in fruit brandy production, and the practice of witchcraft.
SPECIFICATIONS
Archival pigment print
Edition of 3 + 1 AP
35 x 28 cm
