Fairy tales and nightmares from Vevčani

Fairy tales and nightmares from Vevčani Searching the internet eight years ago for interesting carnival-themed photo destinations in the Balkans, I came across the village of Vevčani, North Macedonia. Since then I have been photographing it continuously every year. From the very first year I got to know its residents and we became excellent friends with some of them. I was greatly impressed by their hospitality. Treats and open doors everywhere. The carnival, held every year in mid-January, is traditionally associated with the start of the new year and the celebration of the name “Vassilis”. Through this local custom one can see the great love of the inhabitants for their village. As well as a justified pride that "the modern years" have not managed to change them and take them away from their roots. It is a place that resists change because it has self-sufficiency. Great assets for our times. From the first day I was greatly impressed by the massive participation of the residents in their traditional carnival. Tradition says that they must make their own masks, which at the end of the carnival they will burn and be freed from their roles. Its traditional character and the authenticity of the carnival captivated me. I tried to infiltrate photographically and move my shots away from the established parade of carnival revelers on the main street. I insisted on isolating the disguised people in my photos, trying to reproduce the atmosphere of mystery and enigma that I encountered around me. Many visitors think that everything begins and ends with the parade. Instead, everything starts much earlier and ends in the afternoon of the next day. Some of my night photos do not contain carnivals but only village houses. I put them in the same body of work because I think they have this menacing carnival atmosphere. Finally, I believe that in order to enjoy the Vevčani carnival one must accept its excess and respect its history.