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Kitchen Stories from the Balkans Photographed by Eugenia Maximova

By Bianca-Olivia Nita on June 20, 2014

Vienna-based photographer Eugenia Maximova set out to tell a story about the Balkans. And she realized that the one thing all people have in common in this region marked by conflicts and ethnic tensions is food. Kitchen Stories from the Balkans is a photographic journey into the Balkan culture, by portraying the distinct feel and the particular details of Balkan kitchens.

The kitchen is not only a place to cook but rather a multipurpose space. In the Balkans it is common to be invited in the kitchen when visiting someone. It can also serve as a bedroom or a room where people spend most of their day.

There is no one thing that defines these kitchens, but rather a mix of Eastern rural feel, some Oriental details and the tiny clues of the local dishes, which were adopted after five centuries of Ottoman occupation. According to Maximova, the kitchen represents the spirit of the Balkan home and mirrors society as a whole.

The Kitchen Stories from the Balkans photo series has been published in a book with the same title. The book is available from Anzenberger Gallery and Photo Eye.

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