EXHIBITION // Photo exhibition “may there always be bread"

The photo exhibition “jätku leiba” (“may there always be bread”) is inspired by the rising cost of living and the shrinking table, by the fact that people have less and less time, space, and opportunity to come together. Food is not just fuel or a necessity, but a centrepiece that marks good times, brings people together, and offers joy and a sense of security. At the heart of “jätku leiba” are the interconnections between eating habits, well-being, and memory. In a time when inequality is acutely felt and stability is temporary, we return to our most fundamental desires and needs. Safety and comfort come from the simplest things — food and the people around us.

Over the course of two months, we met with people who work or originate from South Estonia, for whom food carries important traditions, values, and beliefs. South Estonia is rich in people and stories, in varied customs and microcultures, kept alive both by those who grew up here and those who have arrived later in life. Our aim was to capture stories that reflect people’s thoughts on food, memory, and security — to photograph what is simple and essential, everyday and ritualistic.