Photographer Julia Musurina is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘When the Gardens Bloom’. To see Julia ’s body of work, click on any photograph.

‘When the Gardens Bloom’ is the title of the project by photographer Yulia Musurina, which is the result of ten months of the artist’s work at the M.G.Savina House of Stage Veterans in Saint-Petersburg.
From March to December 2024, the photographer captured the residents of this unique place, which is hidden from the public eyes. The main building of the Veterans’ House was constructed in 1902 with the help of the great Russian actress Maria Savina. House of Stage Veterans survived the Revolution, blockades, the years of Soviet power and Perestroika.
There are 82 rooms in the house, where people with incredibly interesting destinies live, behind each door there is a colorful theatre story.
The photo project was born out of curiosity and because of the author’s personal story. For Yulia, one of the most important people in her life was her grandmother, who passed away not so long ago, she spent most of her time as a child. Being by 21st century standards uneducated, having only completed three grades of school, her grandmother instilled in Yulia a love and interest in art and literature. It can be said that ‘When the Gardens Bloom’ is a project that is a memorial dedicated to the memory of the author’s grandmother. In March 2024 I had my first telephone conversation with the director of the mansion. Yulia remembered that the future heroes often repeated that the shooting would take place ‘when the gardens bloomed’, long delaying the photo shoot. Older people in general are characterized by shyness and the habit of putting things off, in retirement we finally stop rushing.

The author shot a project about people beyond age, who have lived hundreds of lives on the stage, who were our heroes and heroines in childhood, for whom age is a number in the passport, and not a reason to get tired of life and immerse themselves in it.
The Stage Veterans’ Home as a great example of how old age is not synonymous with being of neglect and abandonment. Among the heroes of the project are not only actors, it is not a gallery of once famous faces, the photographer wanted to shoot representatives of different theatrical professions, to show the world of theatre from different perspectives. Perhaps it was especially important for Julia Musurina to capture the image of the outgoing theatre intelligentsia, to touch the world of theatre from different perspectives. To give an opportunity to the viewer to admire their strength of spirit and thirst for life.
In the process of working on the project, the photographer was particularly struck by this, in front of her camera were people who were young in mind and heart, full of desire to live an interesting life.

My Name is Yulia Musurina, originally from Siberia and have been living in St. Petersburg for many years. In 2017 I graduated from the Repin Academy of Arts. And since about that time I’ve been shooting on film. So, I decided to synthesize my passion for painting, which has been an integral part of my life for many years. For me photography is first of all about addressing a person. Exploring and capturing. States in different periods of time. The fragility of life. Desires — explicit and hidden. And, of course, memories that I want to take with me. I am interested in people in all their diversity. I believe that every photograph has its own story, its own energy and its own power. I shoot portraits, make long-term photo projects, explore different sides of your personality.  Took part in art and photo exhibitions in Russia and abroad.

All images and text © Julia Musurina