Photography by Varvara Gorbunova
A selection of images from "Coming Home," an evocative series by Prague-based photographer Varvara Gorbunova. Gorbunova's work often traces the quiet threads of intimacy and human connection; this project is no exception. Shot in her hometown, Coming Home reflects on the experience of return—through the eyes of someone who's left, whether as an immigrant or simply as someone who's been away too long. It's a journey many of us can relate to.
She reflects:
"Have you ever tried to describe the feeling of returning home after time away? There's a bittersweet heaviness to it—you notice your parents aging, familiar buildings gone, rivers no longer flowing as they used to. Everything feels the same, but not quite. And yet, there's a deep warmth to it. It smells like bonfires and tastes like grandma's cooking. It's fleeting but ever-present, like being wrapped in a soft, heavy blanket, safe from the world's weight. You feel light, almost as if you're floating. The noise of life fades away. You sink into the comfort of half-forgotten memories, where time unravels, and childhood rises again to meet you in the present."
Gorbunova was shortlisted in our 2024 Art + Photo Book Awards. Interested in submitting your work? Click here to explore upcoming open calls!
