For 12 days in July 2023, 120 young people gathered in Podgorica, Montenegro to build a socio-cultural space in a former empty building together with a group of local youngsters. During those warm and energetic summer days, The Pomorandza space transformed from a formerly abandonend ground level and basement of an appartment building into a space where local inhabitants are now able to meet and organise events.

I was given the space to develop an autonomous visual project that would capture this period. There were two key elements to this work. On the one hand, attempting to capture a project in which so many different gazes and experiences are present, making it near to impossible to do so through the eyes of one sole photographer. I provided several analog cameras that were available to all participants in order to capture their experience. Later on, more footage made by smartphones and other digital camera's were sent to me. All of these images were included in the essay.

The second, to portray all the intimate things which were happening besides the physical activity of building. Connecting, cooking, experiencing joy, laughter and fatigue, dancing, gathering, talking, and so on. The project, as versatile as it is at heart, wouldn't be possible without all those small gestures made by each person participating.

Link to the essay: www.zgradapomorandza.com