A series of family archives, personal observations, and moments captured across generations by photographer Elena Serafimova. Serafimova was born in Borisov, Belarus in 1986. At that time, Belarus was still part of the USSR. Her childhood coincided with the collapse of the USSR and the period of transition to Belarusian statehood thereafter. Serafimova’s artistic practice often returns to themes of Soviet legacy and the attitudes that have influenced individual personalities and identities. “In the shadow of an old apple tree” asks what the dacha truly means to a modern, post-Soviet person. The project is also an attempt to manifest memory—to capture escaping moments of peace and explore a space of sanctuary that continues to offer shelter to a new generation:

“During the Soviet era, the dacha was far more than a plot of land; it was an autonomous island of freedom. It offered a vital escape from overcrowded communal apartments, industrial cities, and rigid state control. Within their designated six hundred square meters, families became the absolute masters of their own realm—deciding what to plant, how to build, and when to water. While cultivating the earth was essential for survival during hard winters, it also provided mental independence—a rare opportunity to disconnect from the state and focus on growing something pure, real, and self-made. I spent my childhood at my grandmother’s dacha, and those times remain my most cherished memories. Years later, this inherited garden returned to my life. Today, as external pressures tighten once again, we flee to where the asphalt ends—hiding behind the green curtain of the forest to find temporary salvation. To be together, to stand still, and to remember who we truly are.”

Elena Serafimova participated in our 2026 Book Award open call and made our shortlist.