Anna Shustikova: Gorko!

Photographer's Profile:
Anna Shustikova is a documentary photographer based in Moscow. Her works were exhibited and screened in Russia, UK, Japan, and Germany. In 2016 she has become a recipient of the Royal Photographic Society’s International Print Exhibition Under 30s Gold Award.

Photo Description 1:
Weddings are one of the most common rituals, thus my inspiration to feature many different weddings in this series. I wanted to illustrate that despite all the differences in Russia, we have so much in common. At Russian weddings the word ‘Gorko’ (bitter) is shouted to encourage the newlyweds kiss. Traditionally gypsy boys and girls get married at the age of 13-14. Usually, they don’t continue to go to school after that, their lives change completely.

Photo Description 2:
At a Mari wedding, women wear traditional dresses and sing traditional songs.

Photo Description 3:
An Old Believers’ wedding. Old Believers separated from the Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms in 1666.

Photo Description 4:
Guests are dancing at a Russian wedding.

Photo Description 5:
In Dagestan young people sometimes prefer to celebrate their wedding in a religious way: no traditional dances, songs, or alcohol. You also have to have a modest wedding if a close relative has recently passed away.