Slava Lyu-fa's "Inner Distance" Shortlisted for Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2026
Slava Lyu-fa, a photographer born in 1989 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and currently residing in Yakutsk, has been nominated for the 2026 Leica Oskar Barnack Award for his documentary project titled "Inner Distance." This series juxtaposes life in Yakutsk with the isolated Arctic communities along the Kolyma River, emphasizing everyday actions that illustrate the connections between individuals, their surroundings, and memories. A significant photograph showcases Lena from Nizhnekolymsk inside an underground fish storage facility, emphasizing food preservation in the face of climate change challenges, such as flooding. The community of Nizhnekolymsk depends on a generator for power and must travel 29 kilometers for essential supplies. Lyu-fa's work highlights the vulnerability of these communities and prompts reflection on their evolving circumstances.
Key facts
- Slava Lyu-fa was born in 1989 in the northern Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and currently lives in Yakutsk.
- His long-term photographic series is titled "Inner Distance."
- The project documents two realities: life in Yakutsk and communities in remote Arctic regions along the Kolyma River.
- In 2026, "Inner Distance" was shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
- The series includes an image of Lena, a woman from Nizhnekolymsk, in an underground fish storage depot.
- Nizhnekolymsk's fish depot is at risk of flooding due to riverbank erosion.
- According to the Leica Oskar Barnack Award project description, electricity in Nizhnekolymsk is generated by a generator, and residents travel about 29 kilometers along the river for supplies and food.
- Lyu-fa states, "The river gives life, but at the same time it takes away the land."
Entities
Artists
- Slava Lyu-fa
- Lena
Institutions
- Leica Oskar Barnack Award
Locations
- Republic of Sakha
- Yakutia
- Yakutsk
- Kolyma River
- Nizhnekolymsk
- Russia