A lovely series by Norwegian and Latvian photographer Marija Kanavin. Born and raised in Norway, Kanavin’s practice revolves around themes of identity, relationship, memory and history. “The hands before me” is part of her personal reflection on and desire to connect with the unknown parts of her identity and family:
“Growing up in Norway with Latvian roots on both sides of my ancestry, I unfortunately never felt a strong connection towards Latvia. As a child my father was concerned with learning Norwegian and therefore never taught me Latvian. I consequently had to learn how to communicate non-verbally with my grandparents. Because of this fragmented connection, I have felt a gap in my life, a longing to know more about my roots, to hear their stories and know where my family is from.”
See more images below.