Where The Poplars Grow

How does a German village end up in Kyrgyzstan? In late summer 1988, nine-year-old Irina Unruh leaves Kyrgyzstan, which at that time is part of the Soviet Union, with her family. Two decades later, she returns to Telman for the first time. Her hometown is located in the valley of the Chu River and is referred to as Grünfeld by the older residents. Like the surrounding villages, it was founded in the 1920s by fleeing German Mennonites. In her publication "Where The Poplars Grow," Irina Unruh not only delves into her own family history but also sensitively places her past in a historical context. Her documentary photographs tell stories of loss, origin, and the search for identity. On the path of the history of Russian Germans, Unruh narrates her personal story of flight, displacement, and home. Unruh's photographic journey hints at the secrets that have been kept silent over generations, the memories that resonate loudly, and those that are only whispered. Her images capture vast landscapes as well as intimate family and friendship moments. "Where The Poplars Grow" combines contemporary history with fragments of a family album. As one flips through the pages, one becomes aware of both collective and individual memories, as well as their gaps. Starting from Unruh's desire to trace and photograph childhood memories, the book opens up many more questions: about political and familial entanglements, about language, and the seemingly naive question of how a German village comes to be in Kyrgyzstan.