Post-industrial Stories is a long term documentary project done by Romanian photographers Ioana Cîrlig and Marin Raica.The project explores life in Romania's monoindustrial communities, with a focus on the changes in the lanscape, the relationship between man and his environment, between man and his lifelong job.

Romania has been heavily industrialized in it's over 40 years of communism. Every town had a industrial centre and people from all over the country were moved to urbanize the areas around mines and factories. Huge industrial centers were built in rural areas, changing the landscape completely. The factory workers and the miners were the country's pride, idealized and portrayed as heroes. Mining areas were rich, people had the biggest salaries and there was never a lack of food in these places, not even in the late 80's, the poorest time during Ceausescu's regime. In the transition from communism to a market economy monoindustrial areas have been affected the most: most of the industrial centers in the country have been either closed or severely downsized, living whole communities jobless. A black market for iron was created and the buildings quickly turned to ruins.

The two photographers started the project in October 2012 by moving to Brad, a small mining town in Western Romania. For three years they will be moving from town to town, documenting life from inside the commnunities.

For more information, please contact Ioana Cîrlig & Marin Raica at:cirligioana@gmail.com marinraica@yahoo.com
or visit: ioanacirlig.com   www.marinraica.com