loops in time, and history that walks in circles
Hanna Shot: "To Move On,
We Need to Take Time to Grieve and Restore Justice"
We Need to Take Time to Grieve and Restore Justice"
Hanna Shot was born in Grodno (Belarus) in 1992. She graduated from BSU majoring in Psychology. She has been engaged in photography since 2018, specializing in portraits. Currently Hanna lives in Warsaw (Poland), in 2023 she was awarded Gaude Polonia scholarship which allowed her to finalize the project "At the Edge of Memory".
Hanna Šot
Photographer
"In spring 2020, I interviewed Hanna for the Ukrainian media "Bird in Flight" - when it still featured Belarusian artists - and in our talk we discovered that for Hanna her family and the aesthetics of their past, present in colors, rituals and symbols of simple but somehow deep and even in a way magical country-side life was a big source of inspiration. Photographing people, she was searching for a way to reveal their beauty and - mixed with at times unconscious allusions - create something new. Four years later, from two different countries we are now living and with another mood, we again get back to the roots. Hanna speaks about the historical parallels she finds in her grandparents' live choices and the path she, like many Belarusians, is forced to take. I ask her about the photocamera that is still with her and the changes in her perception of being a Belarusian."
Olga Bubich
Olga Bubich
How did you end up in Poland and how do you feel here?
I left for Poland with the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. Back then I was not planning to move, but at a certian point I felt my psyche was not coping with it any more and I needed to be in a safer place for myself. I do not clearly remember those days but I do recall how I physically shaking every time I read the news, at the same time feeling endless respect and admiration for the people who came out to protest... I still have a memory of my mother first trying to reassure me and then crying when seeing me off at the railway station.
For me, this is a time of panic and powerlessness... and that unnatural silence in Minsk. The rest is now blurred...
After moving to Warsaw, my personal life changed dramatically, since then I have already gone through several cycles of acceptance/disgust, and now I feel much more mature. But I still have periodic anxiety and nightmares at night and lack the sense of security.
During my immigration to Poland, I have met many open and supportive people, I am very grateful to them. But I still don’t feel relaxed and at home here. I think, first of all, because of my character...
For me, this is a time of panic and powerlessness... and that unnatural silence in Minsk. The rest is now blurred...
After moving to Warsaw, my personal life changed dramatically, since then I have already gone through several cycles of acceptance/disgust, and now I feel much more mature. But I still have periodic anxiety and nightmares at night and lack the sense of security.
During my immigration to Poland, I have met many open and supportive people, I am very grateful to them. But I still don’t feel relaxed and at home here. I think, first of all, because of my character...
As far as I remember, part of your family comes from Poland, and in this regard it is interesting to reflect on the transformation of your identity over the years of living in Poland. Do you now feel like a Belarusian, Polish, a "nation-fluid"...? And how did these feelings develop into the idea for the project that you did with with "Gaude Polonia"?
My family is from Grodno Region. Until 1939, our village had been a part of Poland and my ancestors always spoke Polish in public (with doctors, teachers, priests, etc) and at home - Belarusian. After World War II, many men from my family, including my grandfather Hipolit Šot (or Szot in Polish), were sent to labor camps in Siberia (Magadan) because of their Polish nationality and service in the Regional Army. Those who were able to survive there, already after Stalin's death, began to gradually free themselves and faced a choice: they could either immediately repatriate to Poland, or return home to their families, but live in Soviet Belarus.
It was not an easy choice to make, many already had lovers, wives and children, and there were no guarantees that they too would be transferred to Poland. Nevertheless, fears, resentments, dreams of a better life, and mistrust to the regime pushed many to go straight to Poland, and sometimes even further. This is how some of my relatives ended up here - first the men left, and later they managed to also transfer their families. My grandfather chose to first return home to his parents and then, almost immediately, their entire family submitted documents to leave for Poland. But while they were waiting for a decision, my grandfather met my grandmother, they got married, started building a house, and, when they received permission to leave, they decided to stay..
Photo on the left: Hanna's grandmother's brother Marjan with a horse. Hanna's family archive.
It was not an easy choice to make, many already had lovers, wives and children, and there were no guarantees that they too would be transferred to Poland. Nevertheless, fears, resentments, dreams of a better life, and mistrust to the regime pushed many to go straight to Poland, and sometimes even further. This is how some of my relatives ended up here - first the men left, and later they managed to also transfer their families. My grandfather chose to first return home to his parents and then, almost immediately, their entire family submitted documents to leave for Poland. But while they were waiting for a decision, my grandfather met my grandmother, they got married, started building a house, and, when they received permission to leave, they decided to stay..
Photo on the left: Hanna's grandmother's brother Marjan with a horse. Hanna's family archive.
I understand and respect this decision. They stayed close to their families on the land that gave them strength. I asked my mother if my grandparents ever regretted making this choice. Mom said she never heard them doubt. Every time they returned from Poland, they found themselves at home and said how happy they were here, in Belarus, and how much they loved their home. My grandparents spoke Belarusian to me, and I considered and still consider myself a Belarusian, realizing at the same time a great connection with the culture of Poland.
With the move, I began to often think about the history of my family, about my sisters and brothers, parents and children not able to see one another for years. For years they communicated time only by letters, which they did not even save because of the fear... And they didn't know when they would be able to see each other again.
With the move, I began to often think about the history of my family, about my sisters and brothers, parents and children not able to see one another for years. For years they communicated time only by letters, which they did not even save because of the fear... And they didn't know when they would be able to see each other again.
So, you do feel that the history is repeating itself? Because after the 2020 protests many Belarusians also found themselves in front of similar hard choices.... Someone was forced in exile escaping repressions but others simply did not want to live in the situation where they would feel their freedom and their principles would be compromised...
Yes, I did see history repeating itself and how each of us, Belarusians, is now facing the same choice - to leave or stay. And in my project "At the Edge of Memory" I worked on as a part of my "Gaude Polonia" scholarship, I wanted to tell the stories of people who experienced something similar.
So, one the one hand, you could stay at home, but live in a dictatorship with the constant threat of ending up in prison in very harsh conditions because of the stance you take, you risk losing your health and possibly your life. On the other hand - the hardships related to having to start everything from scratch in a foreign country, without the opportunity to come home and see your relatives. And I am sad to see another generation leaving Belarus. I feel my ancestors and myself looking at each other with understanding and with no reproach. And there is one question in the air between us - will this scenario continue repeating itself? How long? Why?...
So, one the one hand, you could stay at home, but live in a dictatorship with the constant threat of ending up in prison in very harsh conditions because of the stance you take, you risk losing your health and possibly your life. On the other hand - the hardships related to having to start everything from scratch in a foreign country, without the opportunity to come home and see your relatives. And I am sad to see another generation leaving Belarus. I feel my ancestors and myself looking at each other with understanding and with no reproach. And there is one question in the air between us - will this scenario continue repeating itself? How long? Why?...
Could you dwell a bit more on the process, mechanics and search for a visual language and heroes/heroines in your project? What did you learn about yourself and this difficult historical period while working it, getting acquanited with the archive, and talking to grandchildren of your protagonists?
Initially, I was thinking of working only with archival photography, but after discussing the idea with my curator Martin Yasinsky, and you [Olga Bubich], and visiting several archive-based exhibitions, I realized that it was not my path and decided to make my own photos based on the stories I was collecting. I usually work with color, but this project is black and white, because of the connection I felt in it with old family archives.
The sources of my stories differed: they came from both the sides of the border because I talked with the children and grandchildren of those who left and those who stayed. It was harder to find those who had left. Most of their children and grandchildren no longer have ties to Belarus. It helped that I started talking about my idea with everyone, people shared in response, and that’s how new heroes were found.
The sources of my stories differed: they came from both the sides of the border because I talked with the children and grandchildren of those who left and those who stayed. It was harder to find those who had left. Most of their children and grandchildren no longer have ties to Belarus. It helped that I started talking about my idea with everyone, people shared in response, and that’s how new heroes were found.
Visual "entry points" come to me intuitively; if the body responds, then the image works. Over time, rational understanding may emerge. For example, I often use "firankas" (white lace tulle for windows). In my village they were in every house. I have recently learned that in Poland, when people say “what happens behind the firanka,” they mean terrible things that are hidden from the public eye by a mask of decency, but the public is still aware of it. Much like in the village everyone knew their moles, and in the country people knew about repressions and executions, but from the outside every window was closed by such firanka-curtains and all was quiet - noone raised it to look inside.
And, speaking of denunciations, some men chose not to return home because they were afraid that they might kill their informers.
I was touched by the story of one man who wanted to return home, but while he was in the GULAG, his house and household were given to strangers. He was never able to return them, although he did try for many years. He was so resentful that he never went back to Belarus after repatriation. At home with his family he spoke only Polish. The pain was so strong that it was easier for him to cross out everything and start all from scratch.
Unfortunately, I recognize this story in some of my friends - those who had invested a lot of effort, time and health into fighting against dictatorship and lawlessness, but they do not feel the results and see no support from the society and in exile, most likely out of fatigue, resentment and anger, choose to distance themselves from everything Belarusian...
It was also interesting to learn that any talk about the entire period of the World War II, repressions, and immigration was a taboo in families on both sides! Often the pieces of such stories were overheard by children by accident. There was an unspoken ban on asking questions, and if adults started telling something, everyone fell silent and tried to catch every single word.
And, speaking of denunciations, some men chose not to return home because they were afraid that they might kill their informers.
I was touched by the story of one man who wanted to return home, but while he was in the GULAG, his house and household were given to strangers. He was never able to return them, although he did try for many years. He was so resentful that he never went back to Belarus after repatriation. At home with his family he spoke only Polish. The pain was so strong that it was easier for him to cross out everything and start all from scratch.
Unfortunately, I recognize this story in some of my friends - those who had invested a lot of effort, time and health into fighting against dictatorship and lawlessness, but they do not feel the results and see no support from the society and in exile, most likely out of fatigue, resentment and anger, choose to distance themselves from everything Belarusian...
It was also interesting to learn that any talk about the entire period of the World War II, repressions, and immigration was a taboo in families on both sides! Often the pieces of such stories were overheard by children by accident. There was an unspoken ban on asking questions, and if adults started telling something, everyone fell silent and tried to catch every single word.
Hanna, your major is still Psychology so I have one question to you regarding that area of your expertise. What could unprocessed past and silenced stories of traumatic past eventually result it? Why is it imporant to work with one's family history, to look for the voices, names and... graves?
I think this is extremely important because trauma cannot be experienced in silence and it gets rooted in our collective unconscious, firmly shaping our attitudes to life. Such attitudes are passed on with mother's milk, even if history textbooks are sterile. In order to move on, it is essencial for both the individual and society to process previous experiences, take time to grieve - and restore justice.
And until we walk this path to the end, I am afraid we are doomed to being a part of history that keeps repeating itself.
Photos: from Hanna Šot's series "At the Edge of Memory"
Interview, translation into English, design: Olga Bubich
And until we walk this path to the end, I am afraid we are doomed to being a part of history that keeps repeating itself.
Photos: from Hanna Šot's series "At the Edge of Memory"
Interview, translation into English, design: Olga Bubich
