Finn Gibson (b.2000) is a photographic artist living and working in London. He graduated from The Glasgow School of Art in 2022 with a degree in Fine Art Photography.
Since leaving Scotland, I have continued to explore the photographic medium. My latest body of work led me to the depths of Eastern Europe, satisfying a long-lasting desire to discover and document the Roma community in Romania. The photographs are born out of a fascination and curiosity for this nomadic way of life. I spent the autumn of 2023 in the rural regions of Transylvania, photographing a rapidly changing culture that is under consistent threat from pressures of the modern world. Tracing my way through these ancient Saxon lands, accompanied by a 6x7 camera, I journeyed through forty Romanian and Hungarian villages.
Horse drawn carts still clatter from village to village and ancient farming techniques rule over modern machinery. Life in these mountainous regions is undeniably harsh with bleak winters and brutal weather conditions, but despite the challenges, I found there to be an extraordinary sense of community amongst those who live there. People strive for simplicity and live in harmony with the changing seasons. Ancient custom and traditions still hold strong in many areas, underpinning a way of life that hasn’t changed for centuries.
The villagers themselves commanded an overriding sense of joy and happiness, greeting me with endearing smiles and unassuming generosity. As dusk fell each night, chimneys puffed out the aroma of oak and beech, dogs howled, and music swirled out into the streets. People would congregate in the village square at the end of each day, the sharing of Pálinka (locally distilled spirit) and daily stories kept morale high. I forged different friendships from village to village, conversing in broken Romanian and raising my glass when necessary.
I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to all those who offered me a bed, food, and drink along the way. To all the beautiful people I met and photographed, thank you.
