Shared Horizon
I grew up in the countryside of Latgale, near the borders with Russia and Belarus, during the final years of the Soviet Union. My memories of that time are fragmented and indirect.
Today, Latvia’s eastern border has gained new geopolitical significance as part of NATO’s outer frontier. While working in the border zone and speaking with local residents, references to the Soviet era often emerge. For some, it is recalled as a time structured by daily routines, remembered through the lens of youth; for others, it represents repression and occupation. These contrasting memories stand in sharp contrast to today’s depopulated, ageing landscapes. The borderland is not only a militarised space but also a place where collective memory interprets loss, social change, and uneven histories.
The project combines contemporary photographs from this border zone with found vernacular images from the Soviet period. Contemporary landscapes, shaped by security infrastructure and altered environments, are layered with images of everyday life from the past. The resulting fragmentation and tension reflect how geopolitics shapes daily life, memory, and space.
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Website: reinishofmanis.lv
Instagram: @reinis_hofmanis