The series began when Popova ran into
Anfisa’s mother Lila in the streets of St. Petersburg in 2008. Lila was
totally drunk but had a baby in a stroller. Lila agreed enthusiastically
when Popova asked her about doing a photo shoot and even invited the
photographer back to her apartment, where she met Lila’s boyfriend Pasha
and their daughter Anfisa. She spent two weeks in their terribly
run-down and messy apartment, where the couple partied constantly.
The raw and provocative images speak
both of dangerous negligence and of enduring familial love – sometimes
in the same image. Some have been outraged by the parents’ negligence
and have demanded that the girl be removed from her dangerous
surroundings.
“Pasha and his guest are too aggressive against society in a punk-culture-style.”
“Anfisa is playing with the cigarettees of her sleeping mother.”
“Lila is returning home from a night party with Anfisa sleeping in a baby pram. ”
Anfisa is seemingly in danger as she comes close to the window edge in her parents’ apartment. However, there’s a safety net that is not clearly shown in the picture.
“Anfisa is eating baby’s mix while her parents cleaning the room after occasional party.”
“Lila is asking car drivers on the parking for money, using her little daughter like an argument to give her money on the chilldren’s food.”
Lila and Pasha had an argument about money on the street. They went in different directions, but at the last moment, they both looked back.
“Lila and Pasha are resting on the pavement after a long-time period of drug-using and alcohol-drinking.”
Anfina was not taken from her parents and is attending kindergarten. Her mother, Lila, left the family. Her father, Pasha, now takes care of Anfisa.