Alexander Gronsky, Pastoral (2008

Alexander Gronsky, Pastoral, 2008 – 2012

Pastoral (2008 – 2012) by Alexander Gronsky (born in Estonia, based in Latvia) is a documentary series portraying the outskirts of Moscow, Russia. As Gronsky explains, the main focus of the project was to show the complex interaction between people and nature in these unique parts of the Russian capital that are no longer urban and not really rural. The series visualizes human detachment from nature in an urban context as well as a romantic, sentimental desire to be reunited with it at the same time. Human figures are dwarfed by industrial and architectural elements or disappear in a chaotic explosion of foliage, as if Moscow of the 21^st century was no man’s land, either already deserted or not inhabited yet.