Behind the Walls: Slovakia’s Roma communities.

In the forgotten outskirts of Slovakia, on the fringes of Europe, thousands of Roma survive in settlements where poverty and exclusion define the boundaries of daily life. Behind both physical and symbolic walls lie spaces that resemble a post-apocalyptic world: makeshift huts built from salvaged materials, crumbling buildings, muddy roads. And yet, life persists. My portraits aim to capture this duality — to show what is often overlooked: lives marked by extreme poverty, but also by resilience and deep humanity. By photographing faces, everyday gestures, and living spaces, I seek to reveal stories that go beyond stereotypes, inviting a more nuanced understanding. This project was born out of urgency — the need to document a reality often hidden behind simplistic and stigmatizing narratives. In Slovakia, Roma communities are excluded and isolated. Discriminatory policies and deep-rooted prejudices sustain their marginalization. My images strive to bridge that distance. They invite viewers into these camps, to meet their gaze, to feel both the hope and the weight of injustice. I don't aim merely to bear witness, but to raise questions. What barriers have we built — not only of concrete, but in our minds? Are these walls truly impassable? Through photography, I want to remind us that beyond every wall, there are lives and dreams. And a quiet resistance that deserves to be heard.