In unfamiliar surroundings, they face the ongoing challenge of rebuilding their lives in a foreign land while quietly navigating resilience amid the universal struggles of adolescence — the need to be seen, understood, and accepted. 

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This project is not merely a documentation; it is a collaboration. The girls often suggest the frames, poses, costumes, and styling themselves. They want to look like any other teenagers — so we create 'pretty', expressive images that reflect how they wish to be perceived. They are full of life and inner beauty, they are playful and engaged. But the weight of the situation back home always drags behind.

The enigmatic character of their inner worlds is hidden behind cinematic compositions and the luminous beauty of youth — reminding us that the heaviest burdens are often carried behind a smile. Together with me, they tell their stories as partners in the project, offering an honest, intimate view of adaptation, courage, and resilience. 

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In this edit, I’ve included an image of Antony Gormley’s statue that stands on the English shore not far from where we live. This solitary figure faces Europe, submerged by the high tide twice a day. His quiet melancholy reflects the ever- present longing for a home left behind in war. 

I have started working with them on the project in 2023, not long after their arrival in the UK at the age of 14. I have close relationship not only with them but also with their closest families, they mothers are not only happy for me to engage them in my work, but they are proud to see their daughters representing the voices of other girls in their situation. I have the full parental consent for pursue of the project. 

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The project includes hundreds of images already, some of them are conceptual, others are pictures the girls want me to take for them. I also visit them at their homes, school, after-school clubs, work places, and include the reportage of daily life. I predominantly use analog photography (6x4.5; 35mm) and some digital. Girls share the pictures they take with me, so the perspective of the project is wider. The last images created were before summer holidays to document their preparation for the end of the high school prom. 

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This year, we have already agreed we will do some of 'fashion shoot' style of work, that would include women from their families. Girls will choose the styles and outfits, our initial idea is to recreate time when they would have wanted to live the most. Marina got a new job in a Fish and Chip shop. Evelina is now in a different school than the other two girls and is moving her life path in a different direction. This year we will also include videos. 

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The project was partially exhibited in Dom Umeni, in Opava - as a part of the 35 year's anniversary of my school - Insitut of Tvurci Fotografie in Czechia. The selection of 4 images will be included on this years' Art Market in Budapest. Furthermore, selection of 5 images will be shown this autumn on another of school's exhibitions in Bielsko-Biala in Poland. However, none of those exhibitions are representing the wide scale of the project. When thinking of what would I want to include in a fully comprehensive exhibition of the project, I would also add works of the girls - Marina is a devoted painter, and she photographs as well. I would ask them for collages of their pictures made by phone, or even presented a scroll on a digital device such as tablet. I would also include videos where the girls introduce themselves and tell their stories. 

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My wish is to continue working with them for as long as they are happy to do so.