Feature / Stand By / Primeval forest by Jan Brykczynski

The Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus is an ancient woodland, the last primeval forest in Europe. It has its special place in the history of the country, and is deeply rooted in Belorussian folklore. I wanted to examine the complex human relationship with nature in communities situated closest to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. I was primarily interested in how the proximity of this ancient forest was reflected in both public and private spaces. I traveled around the area, visiting people’s homes, local administration offices, museums, forestry lodges and community centers in search of items and themes related to nature.