Tiraspol, 9 July. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Germany have found out about Pridnestrovie. Residents of Lauenburg could see our republic through a photo prism thanks to the German photographer Akki Moto.
"Unknown Europe – Pridnestrovie"
This Saturday, July 7, the exhibition of the photographer Akki Moto "Unknown Europe – Pridnestrovie" has opened in the museum of shipping of the German city of Lauenburg. In the middle of April 53-year-old Axel – a real name of the photographer - has visited our republic for the first time. He runs his own photoproject about the countries of Europe for several years already.
On photo: Akki Moto
"Being interested in Europe, any person sooner or later learns about Pridnestrovie as de facto the existing state which still has no international recognition. I don't undertake to judge the Pridnestrovian conflict. As a photographer I’ve wanted to see how people live there and how they bypass the existing conflict", - Akki Moto have told to our correspondent in an interview.
Photo: Martin Achatzi
About 30 people among whom were famous German photographers - Martin Achatzi, Matthias Ehlers - visited opening of the exhibition. Besides, the action has interested also the manager on tourism of the city of Lauenburg Dorothee Meyer. Guests were treated with kvass and sushka. The exhibition will be shown until August 26.
Photo: Matthias Ehlers
Though three days in Pridnestrovie are small period for acquaintance to all sights of our republic, Akki has managed to visit many of them. A special impression on him was made by people.
By the way, we have got acquainted with Akki after the interview with the guide Andrey Smolensky. He has told the guest from Germany about history, culture and traditions of Pridnestrovie.
On photo: Andrey Smolensky (on the left) и Akki Moto (on the right)
Read further >> to Welcome to Pridnestrovie, or 5 reasons why tourists should visit our country
The photographer has admitted that some Pridnestrovians behave to the camera and the other equipment cautiously in the beginning, but after learning about the photoproject they have went on a conversation willingly.
"With a smile I remember three women from dairy section of the market who have been proud of the production and constantly suggested me to try it before purchase. However, cheese was very tasty truly. On the other hand, the athlete from Chobruchi who has answered a question how the local team manages to participate in the international handball competitions as a part of the Moldavian national team: "The politics is politics, and the sport is sport", - Akki remembers.
Taxi trip is an obligatory point of a photographer’s travel over the countries of Europe. Pridnestrovie is not an exception.
"You can often hear that taxi drivers carry the long road or demand too big trip payment from foreigners. Therefore, of course, I have decided to try to sweep by the taxi in Tiraspol too - late at night from restaurant to the hotel. The driver has shown me a mobile phone with the taxi application installed, which has shown that the price of a trip is 11 rubles (very inexpensive trip). Contrary to our language misunderstanding, I have felt that the taxi driver didn't try to deceive me", - Akki Moto has told.
Akki Moto has been pleased by the fact that for entry into the republic he needs only two documents: visa and accreditation in Civil service of PMR media.
According to the photographer, when choosing photos for the exhibition he has wanted to show people in Central Europe something different from Pridnestrovie, "something absolutely unusual for them".
"The name "Unknown Europe — Pridnestrovie" has arisen directly after the trip. Before the trip I have known only about Transdnistria, but have seen absolutely other things. I have went to Transdnistria and have returned from Pridnestrovie", - Akki Moto has told.
Olga Voronchikhina
