Transnistria - Growing Up in a Fictional Country

After a four months lasting war, Transnistria declared independence from Moldova. To this date, it is still not recognized as a country and considered by the international community as being part of Moldova. My project explores the current social and economic situation of the young generation and their perspectives in a country that, where freedom of press is not guaranteed, power is corrupt and a horrifying financial situation with an average monthly salary is less than 150 Euro. Many look afar to flee from the restrictions of a small country, but the possibilities are scarce. Moscow and St. Petersburg are one of the only possibilities, not only because of the language but also because of Russia being unofficially the main supporter of the Soviet-style government. Transnistrian university degrees are not widely accepted and job opportunities are limited inside the small country. In addition, people are often unable to leave because of their financial situation.

Fabian Weiss was born 1986 in Ravensburg, Germany. After studying 'Journalism and Communication Studies' and 'Photography and Audio-Visual Media' in Vienna he moved to Denmark for a workshop based course in 'Advanced Visual Storytelling' at the Danish School of Media and Journalism with Anders Petersen and Kent Klich. Now he consolidates his knowledge and practice at the postgraduate program 'MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography' at the London College of Communication. His documentation of Roma living in Eastern Europe has been exhibited in Vienna, Jihlava (Czech Republic), Sfantu Gheorghe (Romania) and Poprad (Slovakia). With this project he grew a general interest in telling stories of people excluded or suppressed by society. Lately he followed homosexuals in China and depicted their still mainly hidden life and the struggles they are facing from old traditions and modern consequences. His projects explore the profound cultural changes that occur in our contemporary world. Through personal and intimate stories that fluctuate between documenting daily life to struggling communities he likes to raise awareness for less covered issues, especially for people living on the edge of society. But first and foremost his images are about the individual people and their individual touching stories. Searching for small and telling gestures, the images he creates are acutely observed portraits within a broader assessment of their surrounding culture. It is their closeness and intimacy that catch attention and create a bond between the observer and the documented people. An emotional connection to create the empathy and a deeper commitment. Fabian received a scholarship for the 2012 Foundry Workshop, was shortlisted for the Lucie Foundation Emerging Scholarship and nominated for the 2011 exhibition art price 'Saint Leopolds Friedenspreis' at the Stift Klosterneuburg in Austria. In 2009 and received an honorable mention at the 2009 'International Photography Award'.