Nalchik: about 100 people come to opening of photo exhibition of Circassian national costume

Photographer Maria Mussova has invited residents of Kabardino-Balkaria, who have their own national Circassian costume, to take part in the project "Reflection".

The Maria Mussova's exhibition was opened at the Madina Saralp Art Centre on September 27, on the eve of the Day of Circassian Costume. It presents 22 double photographs. Heroes of each photo are dressed in Circassian national costumes and usual casual clothes.

Maria Mussova, the author of the photo project, said that she was interested in studying such a trend as revival in Kabardino-Balkaria of people's interest in classical national costume "offstage and off wedding party."

The author of the project believes that "the desire to wear national costume is a natural reaction of natives of a small nation to globalization."

"A national costume is often the only way to express own national identity. In terms of average standards and linguistic assimilation, fasche (Circassian clothes) becomes the most vivid marker of ethnic identity. It also continues to exist as a demonstration of preservation of memory of the past," said Marina Bitokova, one of the participants of the photo project.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.