We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Kazikhanov. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In March 2023, I embarked on a deeply personal documentary photo project titled “Our Existence is Resistance.” This anti-colonial and anti-imperial project is a tribute to nations and ethnicities that have suffered under the Russian Empire and were forced to leave their homelands. The goal is to create a compelling exhibition and a comprehensive photo book of around 300 pages, showcasing the lives of 100-150 remarkable individuals, each with a dedicated photo and narrative. I photograph all the heroes on the streets of New York, using a flower in each shoot as a symbol of peace and hope. I then document their stories for the book.

My journey with my husband and daughter took an unexpected turn when we left Russia for America, even before the storm of war arrived. This decision was influenced by the “Moscow Case” in 2019, a ruthless campaign that targeted my husband. The stark reality became clear when the police drew a stark line between Russian political prisoners and those they deemed “non-Russian.”

We realized we couldn’t stay—my husband, a Tabasaran, an ethnic minority from Dagestan, faced grave danger. After our departure, my homeland cast a shadow over Ukraine, unleashing a tragedy that continues today. Russian television perpetuates prejudice and hostility towards our neighbors, deepening the divide.

In the Dagestani village where my children’s roots run deep, every street harbors a home in mourning. Mothers weep for sons who sacrificed their lives for the “Russian World.” This agonizing pattern repeats across numerous ethnic republics within Russia. Moscow eagerly sent ethnic minorities to the front lines while forcibly assimilating indigenous peoples, creating a heart-wrenching dual genocide that forever scars our history.

While in Moscow, I worried about enrolling my Dagestani daughter in local schools, where children like her faced mistreatment due to their background from both peers and educators. In contrast, her American public school teacher assigned a project titled “All About Me,” encouraging the kids to explore their ethnic roots. When I asked if this was to understand cultural differences, the teacher replied, seemingly surprised, “No, it’s to uncover how much the children have in common.” This inspired the inception of “Our Existence is Resistance,” dedicated to the myriad ethnic groups impacted by the Russian Empire, deprived of their right to express their identity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Maria Kazikhanov, a photographer originally from Moscow, now based in Jersey City. I’ve been in the photo and film industries since 1999. From glossy magazines to film scripts, my journey has evolved into a blend of visual storytelling and social impact.

I joined ELLE magazine in 1999, progressing from an assistant photo editor to a creative producer, embracing travel and vibrant encounters that fueled my passion for meaningful narratives. In 2010, I transitioned to filmmaking, focusing on human rights and social issues in Russia. A decade of directing and writing films followed, but a grim turn in 2019, during a peaceful rally, thrust my husband and me into the shadows of dissent.

By 2020, escalating threats compelled us to become immigrants in America. Now my family and I live in Jersey City. Photography became my solace—an advocate for political prisoners. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shattered me, making my homeland feel irretrievable. Grieving and unable to touch my camera for months, resilience emerged as I nurtured my young children.

In September 2022, a renewed sense of purpose led me to form a clandestine team in Moscow. I photographed anti-war posters in New York and sent them to Moscow. Risking arrest and up to 15 years in prison, my secret art group bravely displayed these messages across the city. Two of my team members narrowly escaped apprehension while putting up posters. Seeking a safer artistic outlet, in March 2023, I embarked on the documentary photo project “Our Existence is Resistance.”

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

In the last months of 2023, witnessing millions of indigenous people all over the world losing their homes and loved ones, children left without food and water, trying to survive under shelling, I felt even more deeply that the most precious thing is human life. Between a person with a gun and a child, I will always choose the child, no matter whose child it is and no matter whose gun it is. I hope my art can bring attention to the importance of each life, no matter who you are and where you come from.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a photographer is capturing a feeling—a unique opportunity to peer into a person’s soul and narrate their entire story through a single photograph. As my journey unfolds, I eagerly embrace upcoming projects delving even deeper into the human experience. While the world burns, my art preserves my inner peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mariakazikhanov.wixsite.com/mariakazikhanov
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photoshurup/

Image Credits

Photo by Petra Kazikhanova