Women with Flowers

The portrait photography project features Eastern European origin women posing with flowers. Each lady who participated in the project chose a flower that matches her personality. The history of flowers is surrounded by symbolism and for thousands of years, influencing our responses and emotions. Each flower has its own mysterious meaning, for example, roses symbolise love and passion, gladiolus symbolises the strength of character but hyacinth- sincerity and so on. The flower is the connecting element between women and her nature, discovering her temperament and for a little moment opening her inner world to the viewer. The flower and the woman are both complimenting each other, their connection is organic and natural. I started this project in the year 2010, soon after I arrived in Scotland. This project helped me to feel safe during my first years of life here. Connection with familiar stories of the women who went through similar experiences was very important for me. Assimilating in the different culture can be complicated- adaptation to a new life, new language, unfamiliar faces and also very deep longing for home.