Driven by their curiosity about the new EU countries, Dutch photographer Nicole Segers (born 1960) and journalist Irene van der Linde travelled from Finland to Bulgaria along what will be Europe's new eastern border. They documented the 5,000-kilometre journey together.
On 1 May 2004 the EU's border will be extended to coincide with the easternmost borders of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. A photo documentary offers a peek into life along this extreme eastern edge of Europe, its inhabitants, the border's impact on their lives and a visual impression of the border itself. For centuries these borders have fuelled battles, so that they have been redrawn repeatedly. If the term 'fluid' can be used to describe a border, it certainly applies to Europe's new eastern edge.
Traveldocument along the East-European border
The photo essay presents life in Eastern Europe: migration, struggling small farmers, poverty, unemployment, towns in decline, mountainous regions offering refuge to smugglers and hermits, ancient cultures, idealists seeking peace and quiet. Segers offers a visual impression of Europe's new eastern frontier with this series of black-and-white photos.In her work, Nicole Segers focuses on an environment's mood and the details of everyday life which serve as metaphors for broader themes. She is interested in the underlying histories hidden in each image. The photos taken along what has become known as the velvet curtain offer the viewer a first-hand view of the border, its environs and the local inhabitants.
Publication
The End of Europe: Encounters Along the New Eastern Frontier, Lemnicaat publishing house, 2004
