In the eighties and nineties Alexander Shchemlyaev is a lone author. He lives from one business trip to another. In 1991 Alexander shows his work to APN photo editor Vsevolod Tarasevich. The guru of Soviet photography is amazed by the young photographer’s manner of shooting: “You shoot like a Chukcha — what I see, I sing”. At that time, not many people could afford to take photos so frankly, breaking photographic clichés and stamps. When Tarasevich asked Shchemlyaev about his famous works, he modestly inquired: “Do you take photographs too?”. “What a chukcha, he doesn’t even know who Tarasevich is!”. This was the key to unravelling Shchemlyaev’s photography — he never focused on other people’s work. He never even saw them. Back in the early eighties, on the advice of his Novokuznetsk friend, photographer Vladimir Sokolaev, Shchemlyaev threw out all the back issues of Soviet Photo, refused to subscribe and never looked in the main photographic magazine of the country again. Therefore, Tarasevich’s name, as well as many other Soviet photographers, were unknown to Shchemlyaev.

Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Ukhul: The abode of the Dagestani highlanders

Alexander’s first series Ukhul: The abode of the Dagestani highlanders opens the pages of a large country at the change of epochs, which are fading from memory. Summer of 1991. The series is preceded by a short revelation of a metropolitan photographer about a night climb to a small high-mountain village on the verge of death. This narrative is like a pass to another life. What follows is just an observation. Local shooting during a day and a half, from the last strength and in one breath. A case where there is nothing more to add to the visuals. Only to look into this other life, filled with the established way of life, cheerful temperament and children’s curiosity, male dignity and female diligence, wisdom of old people, traditional hospitality… Anxiety in the light of the changes to come.  

Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

events

Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

David Verberckt

Please welcome our new NCU member. David Verberckt was born in 1971 in Ostend, Belgium. Based in Budapest, Hungary.
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Narva 2018

'Chukotka is a land of loneliness' 10 November — 17 December, 2018 Grand Prix of the XXIV International Photo...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Vitebsk 2018

'Ordinary Photos' 20 — 24 June, 2018 III International Festival of Photography “FotoKrok” named after Sigismund...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Sergey Trapezin

Please welcome our new NCU member. Sergey Trapezin was born in 1972 in Moscow, USSR. Based in Moscow, Russia.
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Eugene Kanaev

Please welcome our new NCU member. Evgeny Kanaev was born in 1955 in Zelenodolsk, USSR. Based in Kazan, Russia.
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Viktor Ratushny

Please welcome our new NCU member. Victor Ratushny was born 1952 allegedly in the Vinnytsia region, Ukrainian...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Odessa 2013

'Ordinary Photos' 1 — 15 October, 2013 Noga Creative Union, Department of Culture, Nationalities, Religions and the...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Nizhny Novgorod 2013

'3 Outskirts' 3 — 16 April, 2013 Noga Creative Union, Ministry of Culture of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and Russian...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Yekaterinburg 2012

'3 Outskirts: Karelia, Altai, Chukotka' 14 May — 20 June, 2012 Noga Creative Union and GM Photo Gallery present...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Anna Voitenko

Please welcome our new NCU member. Anna Voitenko was born in 1979 in Kiev, Ukraine. Based in Kiev, Ukraine.
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Alex Melia

Please welcome our new NCU member. Alex Melia was born in 1972 in Moscow, USSR. Based in Moscow, Russia.
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Eric Gourlan

Please welcome our new NCU member. Eric Gourlan was born in 1968 in the town of Lunel (southern France). Based...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Emil Gataullin

Please welcome our new NCU member. Emil Gataullin was born in 1972 in Yoshkar-Ola, Republic of Mari El, USSR. Based...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Moscow 2008

'WE' 8 — 28 September, 2008 Noga Creative Union and Theophania Art Gallery present the first solo exhibition of Misha...
Alexander Shchemliaev / New member 2018. Noga Creative Union

Alexander Shumskikh

Welcome one of the first members of the NCU. Alexander Shumskikh was born in 1972 in Moscow, USSR. Based in Moscow,...
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