Subcultures of the world: a collection of portraits of the marginal, collected over 10 years

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

More than ten years Czech photographer David Tesinski travels the world and photographs representatives of various subcultures … Some of the pictures he took are not easy to look at, because they depict people with painful addictions. At the same time, these documentary photographs are important because it is impossible to imagine a full-fledged section of society without marginalized strata. In the photographs of David Tesinski, you can see various marginal layers: from followers of Rastafarianism in Jamaica to Satanists from his native Czech Republic. One of the last series of his works is called "Before the Night Starts", in which the author talks about the representatives of the LGBT community in Cuba. There, despite the existing strict social framework, people live as they see fit, without hiding it.

David Tesinski tells about his projects in the following way: “I have always been interested in subcultures, in particular I was fascinated by their philosophy, or at least the way of self-expression that its followers use”. Photographs often become a way to tell the world about what is happening in a particular country, where it is impossible to openly display revolutionary sentiments. For example, young people from the Iranian resistance are conducting underground activities, fighting for their freedom, and David specially takes photographs that will tell the truth about the situation in Iran abroad. “When I see oppression of animal or human rights, I feel angry, and the camera is a great weapon to defeat public indifference to the topic,” says David. He is sure that his pictures should stir up society, become an impetus for changes for the better all over the world.

Transgender Cuba

Abi is transgender. During the day, he sells fruit in a poor neighborhood in the suburbs of Havana, and in the evenings he turns into a charming dancer. The photo captures the moment when his partner and flatmate help him apply makeup.

Exorcism in Ethiopia

This man believes that demons constantly visit him, so he prays for help from the church. During the rite of exorcism, he screams, waves his arms, but he is convinced that, having cleansed himself, he will finally stop hurting and suffering. Local residents unconditionally rely on the help of priests, pay them large sums of money, often it can be half of the total earned. Photo taken in Ethiopia in 2014.

Generation of revolutionaries in Iran

A series of photographs about young people from Tehran and Iran tells about how the new generation of revolutionaries lives and thinks.

Ascetics from around the world

For 10 years already Mira has been living without money in harmony with nature. He does not use drugs and medicines, does not smoke or consume alcohol, coffee and tea, does not heat food or drinks, does not start a fire, and obtains food and clothing exclusively in garbage cans.

Satanists in the Czech Republic

Satan's worshipers see the fallen angel as a spirit of progress, an inspiration for great accomplishments that lead to the liberation of individuals. Among the followers of this cult in the Czech Republic are representatives of the middle class, they rarely impose their ideology on anyone, recognizing the right of everyone to their own opinion. The picture shows one of the night rituals performed by Satanists.

Homeless in Japan

Few people know that there are slums in Japan. They look very different from the poor quarters in India or Nepal. There, mostly children run around the streets, here grandparents walk around with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The photographer spent several days in the poor people's quarter and was convinced from his own experience that these people are welcoming and friendly to those who speak their language to them (before the trip, he heard a completely different opinion). They willingly treated David to beer, and gave him a guitar as a souvenir.

Rastafarians from Jamaica

David went to Jamaica to find out if there are still real fans of reggae. It turned out that there is.

Drug addicts from the Czech Republic

David spent 8 months dealing with drug addicts in Prague. He learned a lot about their behavior and decided to tell the world about the tragedy of these people.

Rap culture in America

A series of photographs tells about real rappers and their daily life. David talked to leading parties, DJs, street artists.

Circus artists in the Czech Republic

The life of a circus performer is not only about constant training and performances. Artist Jaromir Joo from time to time walks along the city streets with his pupil, the tiger Taiga.

In Soviet times, gained particular popularity subculture "dudes" … Ignoring the norms of Soviet morality, the dudes lived brightly and cheerfully!

Based on materials from the site mymodernmet.com