Kylys (2025)

This project tells the story of the Yakut cattle breed and the efforts to revive it at Kylys Farm in the Gorny District of the Sakha Republic, Yakutia. Once widespread across the region, the breed was brought close to extinction during the Soviet era. Today, only around 2,000 animals remain from a population that once numbered about 400,000.

Yakut cattle are small, resilient animals with thick winter coats, able to withstand extreme cold and survive in one of the harshest climates in the world. They are valued for their rich milk, meat, and deep connection to the traditional way of life of the Sakha people.

The series follows the seasonal migration of the herd from winter shelters to summer pastures. Along the way, a truck carrying calves gets stuck on a rain-soaked road, and a small team of farm workers comes together to rescue the animals. These moments reveal not only the physical labor behind the farm’s daily life, but also the care, patience, and commitment required to preserve a living heritage.

Through these images, the project reflects on resilience, continuity, and the quiet collective work that allows culture, memory, and life to endure across generations.

Kolga Tbilisi Photo, group exhibition, Tbilisi Factory, Georgia. May 2026