4,000 Miles

By Kathrin Ollroge
With extracts from 'Trans-Siberian Journal' by Caroline Budge
3 April - 5 May 2006

4,000 Miles is the first major solo show in the UK of fine art documentary photographer Kathrin Ollroge. It surveys the changing landscape and people of former communist states. This series of photographs was taken on a research trip on the Trans-Siberian express railway from St. Petersburg, Russia across Siberia into Mongolia. It reflects upon how the former USSR's communist past, its icons and symbols still pervade both life and landscape of the new trans-Siberian states and Mongolia. 4,000 Miles refers to the length of Kathrin Ollroge's travels on the Trans- Siberian/Mongolian Express railway.

Open to the public on weekdays (except bank holidays) from 9am to 5pm

Extracts from 'Trans-Siberian Journal' by Caroline Budge
"How does our country's past shape us, define who we are and where we will go? Religion. Ethnicity. Tradition. Values. We feed off culture and it is in turn fuelled by us. Which came first? How did we know which music to play? If we are responsible for writing and re-writing History, what dictates the narrative?"

"For now we're nestled in our platskartny bunks, all fifty-six of us wrapped, draped or seated in white linen sheets, the charges of our matronly provodnista. And the beautiful Russian landscape goes by, disconcertingly stopping at signals or stations, then reassuringly green and rolling, swimming behind the condensation of the double-glazed carriage windows..."

Further information about Kathrin Ollroge
Text by Elizia Volkmann
In '4,000 Miles', Kathrin Ollroge's compositions present almost sphinx-like riddles that exposes the paradoxical lives that ordinary people live in the new trans-Siberian, trans- Mongolian states. Included in this series are beautiful and sympathetic portraits of people and exquisite colour-studies of the social geography of this political territory. Ollroge is part of a new wave of voices from the post-communist states, telling tales of the hidden world of former soviet states; it is a story told by a woman living between England and Germany, who has both experienced living under a communist regime and the luxury of the west, giving a unique perspective on this important unfolding chapter of history.

4,000 miles is a touring exhibition and an on-going project that will change with each show. It has come to Brahm Gallery from Dean Clough, and will then move on to Germany after the show at Brahm.

Further information about Caroline Budge
Caroline Budge studied English Literature and German at Leeds University and has been based in Edinburgh since graduating in 2002. Initially working for a children's book publisher, she has recently joined the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Caroline's writings range in style from creative to journalistic, the recent focus being her Trans- Siberian/Mongolian train journey with photographer Kathrin Ollroge.