Invisible People of Belarus

Invisible People of Belarus is a bilingual documentary photobook by Jadwiga Brontē exploring the lives of disabled people and Chernobyl victims living in Belarusian state institutions known as internats.

Presented in both English and Russian, the book combines intimate portraiture, documentary photography, testimonies, and critical essays examining institutionalisation, exclusion, care, resilience, and human connection. Created through extended periods spent inside internats, the work focuses on dignity, relationships, creativity, and everyday life rather than sensationalising suffering.

The publication includes:

• Documentary photographs made in Belarusian internats
• Personal testimonies from mothers and residents
• Critical reflections on disability and institutional power
• Essays contextualising the social and political realities surrounding internats
• Text in English and Russian

Rather than objectifying trauma, the book invites viewers to encounter the humanity, individuality, and emotional lives of people often hidden from public view.

This project was made possible through independent documentary work and crowdfunding support.

Details

• Bilingual photobook (English / Russian)
• Documentary photography
• Artist: Jadwiga Brontē