Estonia
Bob
A gay man, age 55
Photo: Alana Proosa
Photo: Alana Proosa
Bob told:
This is my high-school diploma. I actually don’t keep things that I don’t like. But I have kept the diploma and birth certificate in a cardboard case. High school wasn’t unpleasant because it was school, I wasn’t particularly bullied or anything. But this period was unpleasant. The more I think of it in retrospect, it was a nasty, ignorant period. I would never want to relive this again. I totally lose it when I hear someone being nostalgic and longing for this period. Everything was so grey and uniform.
I brought with me these two rings. One is a bit angular. I don’t wear jewellery on my hands as much as I used to, but I love looking at it. The old-fashioned one I got from Moscow, from some market from some Uzbeks. These symbols [on it] last much longer than we do. And the other one was made specially for me. It’s original and unique like we all are, despite all bloody skin tones, sexualities and whatever is being projected on us. To be able to stay oneself!
About the project in Estonia
Artist Alana Proosa photographed objects brought by the participants. These objects symbolised something to leave behind and something to bring to the future. These objects are accompanied by accounts told by the interviewees.
