This documentary photography project explores the everyday lives, landscapes, and cultural identities of Lithuanian border towns near Russia’s Kaliningrad region. Shaped by a complex past and an uncertain future, these communities reveal how the border subtly yet profoundly influences daily existence. Once strategic Soviet outposts, the towns now exist in a liminal space – between European integration and the persistent shadow of their Russian neighbor.

Through portraits and landscapes, “Fences” captures remnants of the Soviet era – abandoned buildings, fading infrastructure, and former border crossings – set against signs of contemporary life and the routines of those living near one of Europe’s most militarized enclaves.

Beyond the physical environment, the project delves into emotional and cultural dimensions, telling the stories of people whose lives are closely tied to the border. It highlights not only its economic consequences but also its psychological weight, revealing how proximity to this territory continues to shape identities and collective memory.

The border stands as both a visible and invisible force, recalling Lithuania’s turbulent 1990s and the region’s ongoing tensions. By weaving together personal narratives with historical and political context, “Fences” offers a visual meditation on what it means to live caught between two realities.