Out-of-the-way

Life in a small settlement in the basin Nizhnyaya Tunguska River, in the far north of Russia, is one of extreme isolation. About 100 adults live in the settlement; there are no roads and the nearest town is 300 kilometers away. Local and family legends and traditions are still mighty here.

Out-of-the-way is a story about a settlement in the extreme North of Russia, where bad accessibility and isolation, special relationship with nature and following the centuries-old ways of life involve unique mythology of the region where the fictional things are very often more important than modern reality.

These lands are immersed into the flow of their own life activity, where the past and the present surprisingly interlace.

My ancestors were hereditary hunters in a small settlement in the basin Nizhnyaya Tunguska River. Almost 300 years ago they came to colonize Siberia, then assimilated into the Evenkis (Tunguses) and founded a village in the taiga. Nowadays the population of the village is 100 adults and the closest town is 300 km away, there are no roads and the only thing that connects it with civilization is the helicopter that shuttles twice a month, the transport connection (winter road) functions only 2,5 winter months.

Life of this part of my family — my father’s siblings and numerous cousins and nephews — has not changed for centuries in that remote area surrounded with pristine wilderness.

Modern civilization penetrates slowly and fragmentarily in there, it is intricately woven into the local way of life. Electricity, supplied by a diesel generator, is available only in the mornings and evenings. Temperatures in winter average -45° Celsius.

Using family archetypes, I combine photography, archive, objects and installations in my work, and I hope to arouse interest in other family histories and ask questions... ...such as...who we are, where do we come from, and how encapsulated micro-communities survive without external influences, when logistics is difficult, there have to deal with isolation, harsh climate and wild nature around.

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Children run around with sweets inside the house during New Year holiday season. Lip of the moose is a traditional New Year meal and delicacy. Defrosting meat straight on the table is very typical here. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2015

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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This is Nikita, he is 14 years old. He sorts networks after fishing in a break between preparation for final examinations at school. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Crucian and the summer kitchen in the old house of the grandmother Marusya. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - The young woman in the yard of the house. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017
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The young woman in the yard of the house. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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This is the young hunter Mikhail, he is 30 years old. He trains young horses in a birchwood, near the village. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Five-year-old Irishka pose on the old «parka» - hunting coat. As with many families in the village, she is a mixture of cultures and ethnicities: her mother is Tungus, and her father is Russian. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Valeriy, 60. (He is my uncle, my father’s younger brother) . He is the head of our family in the settlement. There were about 20 family members living there, but recently more and more people leave. He is a hunter in the 5th generation. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Fish needs to be brought live to the village. Fishes live in forest lakes to which it is necessary to go by the boat down the river several days, hunters spend the night on this long way. Live fishes in a special cage are left for the night. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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The paws of a rogue bear. Bears are not usually hunted as their meat is often infected and not fit for human consumption. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2016

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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View of the village on a winter evening. The average temperature in winter is about -45 Celsius. Electricity in the village is from the generator in the morning and in the evening. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2015

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Six-year-old Svetlana and her five-year- old brother, Semyon — pose on the floor of their home. As with many families in the village, theirs is a mixture of cultures and ethnicities: Their mother is Russian, and their father is half Tungus. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2016

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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This is winter cabin (Hunter's house / Hunting lodge) called «Voron» it means The Raven. Cabin is located 80 km down the river from the settlement. Family members and friends stay in the cabin during it. The cabin is also used to proсes the fish catch during the fishing season. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Spring view from the window cabin (Hunter's house / Hunting lodge). Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017
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Spring view from the window cabin (Hunter's house / Hunting lodge). Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Dogs live outside the houses in dog kennels all year around. Locals crossbreed dogs with best hunting qualities and keep genealogical track of each animal. There is a waiting list to get one of such dogs. Katangsky District, 2016

© Elena Anosova - Hand of the hunter and horn of an old deer. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017
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Hand of the hunter and horn of an old deer. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2017

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Valentina (34), mother of four is holding her daughter. Varvara who is 10 months old is playing with fox skin. The family is interethnic: mother is Russian and father is half Tungus. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2016

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Reproduction of famous Russian painting by Vasily Perov called “Hunters at rest” inside the local house. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2016

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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The head of a reindeer hangs in the yard. It was lifted on height that dogs haven't gnawed. Later, when there will be time for processing, horns will be used for decoration of an interior. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2015

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Archive photo. Uncle Sasha in his youth in a traditional hunting coat - «parka». Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia

© Elena Anosova - Image from the Out-of-the-way photography project
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Installation view. The legend of how the river became salty. But people stayed and prefer to drinking salty tea. Katangsky District, Irkutsky region. Russia, 2016

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