May 28, 2010

The Dying Villages project

Scottish poet Tom Pow preserves the world's depopulating villages through poetry, photographs and found objects, collected as the Dying Villages project

Emptying villages: Alberto, Valbueno, Omana, Spain 2007 — For three months each winter, Alberto lives in the village of Valbueno, Omana, Spain, entirely alone. 'Just me and the cows'
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Villager, Villabandin, Omana — A villager smiles in Villabandin, Omana, Spain, in 2007. 'We worked hard, but we were happy. Not a bad one among us. Not one'
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Father Georgy, Karabanova — Father Georgy in Karabanova, Kostroma, Russia, in 2008. 'I'm building a church in each emptying village in the parish. Why? Because I am a priest'
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Rima, Kozino, Kostroma — Rima, in Kozino, Kostroma, Russia, pictured in 2008, is the sole inhabitant of her village. 'I stay because I like village life'
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Village Women, Pobladura de la Sierra — Village women knit in Pobladura de la Sierra, Castilla y León, Spain. The majority of those left in Europe's depopulating villages are women
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Villager, Medvedki, Kostroma — A villager in Medvedki, Kostroma, Russia in 2008 answers a request for a song: 'These teeth aren't for singing any more, only swearing'
Photograph: Tom Pow Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Jacks from a Dying Village and boule from a dying village — Jacks from a Dying Village and Boule from a Dying Village (2010) by Tom Pow and Elizabeth Waugh
Photograph: Abby Burn Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: From The Suitcase of the Dying Village. The Book of Years — The Book of Years (2010) by Tom Pow and the Busy Bees of Ae Village, from a display of artefacts entitled The Suitcase of the Dying Village
Photograph: Abby Burn Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: Lizzie Farey. Willow, heather, bog myrtle, moss, grass, peat. 2009 — Willow, Heather, Bog Myrtle, Moss, Grass, Peat (2009) by Lizzie Farey, from The Suitcase of the Dying Village
Photograph: Abby Burn Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Emptying villages: From The Suitcase of the Dying Village. Relic — Relic (2008) by Tom Pow, from The Suitcase of the Dying Village. Made from felt boot trimming found in a box in Glebovo, Kostroma, Russia
Photograph: Abby Burn Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Dying villages: Tom Pow during his residency at the Scottish Poetry Library — Tom Pow sits beneath the Tree of Dying Villages during his residency at the Scottish Poetry Library in April this year
Photograph: Lilias Fraser Photograph: guardian.co.uk

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