Justyna Mielnikiewicz

B. 1973- POLISH Based in Tbilissi

Justyna is an award winning photographer from Poland, based in Georgia since 2003. Her works have been published in various international publications such as The New York Times, Monocle, Newsweek International, Marie Claire, GEO France, National Geographic, Le Monde, Stern, German Yearbook of Reporters without Borders - among others.

Began her career in 1999 in Poland, reporting for the daily newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza. Since 2001 works as a freelance documentary photographer. The most important part of her professional activities is devoted to personal, long term projects.

In 2014 she published her first book Woman with a Monkey-Caucasus in Short Notes and Photographs. Currently finishing her long term project on Ukraine A Ukraine Runs Through it exploring modern Ukraine in turmoil with the Dnieper river as a metaphor of present split in the country. With 2016 grant she won from E. Smith Memorial Fund she continues her work, that explores the role of ethnicity in identity formation for Russians residing in former soviet states, 25 years after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Among other awards in her career are: The Aftermath Project Grant Winner, Canon Female Photojournalist Prize and World Press Photo. She teaches workshops and is available for lectures on the topic she specializes at: Former Soviet Union.

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Abkhazia, Syrians coming back home

Justyna Mielnikiewicz

The Russian conquest of Caucasus was completed by the second half of the 19th century. Local elites who converted to Islam were forced to flee across the sea to Ottoman Empire. Strong Russification policy replaced their memory. Later Soviet Union drew its own borders - covering up what was left from past arrangements even further.…