Belarusian Interiors - Andrej Liankievič
"Over the last 60 years, Belarus has undergone a profound transformation, with rapid urbanisation reshaping the demographic and cultural fabric of the country. Today, only 25% of the population live in rural areas and many villages are at risk of depopulation or abandonment. The rural interiors captured in my project are not only living spaces, but also repositories of memories and traditions. The embroidered textiles, hand-carved furniture and fading family photographs reflect a way of life that is disappearing. These houses were once the centre of family life, places where generations lived together, cared for each other and passed on traditions. Now that children are moving to distant cities, many older people have to spend their twilight years in isolation, often as widows. In Belarus, 74% of older women live alone.
The decline of the traditional Belarusian village is not just about physical space, but is also a story of cultural loss. Younger generations rarely use their parents’ rural home as a family centre and the intergenerational ties that once defined rural life are weakening. These frozen interiors are a poignant reminder of a way of life that was characterised by resilience, hard work and attachment to the land. But they also reflect the difficulties of ageing in solitude, where economic hardship, health problems and lack of support take their toll.
The decline of rural Belarus reflects global trends, but is also rooted in the country’s unique history, which was shaped by Soviet collectivisation.”
