The catalog accompanies the exhibitions of the "In Their Place" project, which were held at Belene Prison from January 27, 2025, to January 27, 2026, and at the National Gallery/The Palace from April 15, 2025, to June 1, 2025.
I fought for two years for permission to access the prison in Belene and never dreamed of the freedom they gave me. All-day meetings with inmates and access to every corner of the prison. This prison is unique for several reasons. Firstly, it is located on Persin Island in the Danube River and is accessible only via a pontoon bridge owned by the prison. Access to the bridge is impossible because it is heavily guarded. Secondly, the prison not only has security and technical protection but also relies on nature to make escapes impossible. The island has an unprecedented population of mosquitoes, and without protective measures, the mosquitoes can poison your blood and cause death in just a few minutes. The last reason is that this prison has the most inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. The majority of the people depicted in the project have been convicted of murder and are serving the heaviest sentences. Many have resorted to such crimes due to years of sustained systemic abuse, harassment, injustice, and deep emotional turmoil. While this does not excuse their actions, it sheds light on the complex factors and serious reasons behind their choices.
This project has given me a different perspective. I do not engage anyone with it. But I have a position, and it is important for me to express it. Because expressing a position is the freedom that no one can take away from us.
