Everyone we meet in the northern Albanian town of Bajram Curri has stories of a brother, a sister, a cousin, and a friend who has left in search of a better life or to provide for their families. Unemployment is widespread in Albania, and remote northern towns like this one have been disproportionately affected. Driven by desperate poverty and a sense of hopelessness for the future, more than a million Albanians (mostly men of working age) have left, hoping to find opportunities abroad.
This series is the story of those who have remained. It features portraits of ordinary people I encountered on the street and the world they live in.
Mieke Douglas is an internationally awarded photographic artist from the Netherlands and Canada who currently calls London her home. Her distinctive style is characterized by evocative lighting and surreal vantage points, creating a mood almost painterly yet tinged with a subtle sense of disquiet. Notably, Mieke has garnered significant recognition, clinching prestigious accolades such as the Sony World Photography Award Open Category 2023, BBA One-Shot Award Top Ten Finalist 2023, Open Image Barcelona, Chromatic, Minimalist, Julia Margaret Cameron, Budapest International, and British Photography Awards.
Furthermore, she earned a place on the shortlist for the Alpha Female Award at the Sony World Photography Awards, the Association of Photographers Emerging Talent Awards, and the BBA Photography Prize.
Douglas' work has been widely published, housed in private collections, and exhibited internationally, including a showing at the esteemed Royal and to discuss her photography journey.
