‘Prisoners killed each other’s kittens. So now they’re forbidden inside’: Vladimir Karamazov’s finest {photograph} | Artwork and design

Belene jail, in northern Bulgaria on the border with Romania, is probably the most closely guarded facility of its kind in my nation. It is on an island, so escape is close to inconceivable, and has the most important variety of folks serving life sentences for homicide in any Bulgarian jail.

This picture describes a tragic, horrible story. There are lots of stray cats on the island, in addition to pigeons and mosquitoes. The prisoners used to undertake stray kittens and maintain them as pets. When I began my undertaking, For the Grace of God, on the jail, many prisoners had pet cats. But in a jail, this may grow to be an issue – prisoners kill one another’s pets as punishment or for revenge. So now it’s forbidden. It’s even the identical with flowers – some consider the flowers as mates, they nurture and develop them within the solar, however then different prisoners destroy them. Anything a prisoner can create a relationship with could be destroyed. Part of their punishment is to be alone, with none household, or any attachments to something.

It’s one other world with a special algorithm, one other language, and even cash is completely different – cigarettes are foreign money. There are lots of guidelines. I spent lots of time in Belene, dwelling just like the prisoners, spending all day with them, listening to their tales. I’m a well known tv and theatre actor right here in my nation. I’ve hosted the Bulgarian version of Survivor for 5 seasons; I host the Bulgarian model of The Traitors. I’ve lots of work, however I don’t just like the folks in my trade, and my work as an actor is boring for me now. I began this undertaking out of curiosity about life inside: folks in my nation don’t know how prisoners stay. It was troublesome to get permission as I needed to entry the jail for a 12 months and to be allowed to shoot in every single place and anyplace with no limitations.

Talking to the prisoners, I found that every part begins of their childhood: 99% grew up in a household with out love, cash, or with abuse; one thing was damaged. This is an issue in society, not just for these folks. Most folks simply need prisoners lifeless; they would like funding to go to outdated folks or kids. When I introduced this work on the National Gallery in Sofia, folks have been crying – it was the primary time they noticed prisoners as folks like us. They noticed human beings. We are all the identical, however some folks don’t have the chance for a very good life.

At the start, I used to be afraid of the prisoners who have been sentenced with out parole. I assumed these folks had nothing to lose and will kill me as a joke. I mentioned to the director to please alert me if any of them have been in my neighborhood. One day he launched Milchu, and instructed me to spend the day with him. I requested Milchu to please inform me if we got here throughout any of the prisoners with out parole. He laughed and requested me how I anticipated them to look? I mentioned I don’t know – in chains? But I begged him to warn me. The subsequent day I requested him the identical factor. Eventually he instructed me: “I’m one of them. I have a 26-year life sentence without parole.” My thoughts was blown – I didn’t count on that this man I had spent two days with was a killer. I couldn’t sleep that night time.

The first three months have been very troublesome, I had lots of nightmares. There are lots of horrible tales, however I didn’t wish to clarify the tales in my images. I needed to consider how a legal life begins, to ask questions, not choose. “Can you be friends with a killer?” I used to be requested as soon as. The onerous fact is sure. Today I’m good mates with three prisoners sentenced with out parole.

My life has modified rather a lot within the final two years due to this expertise. Forgiveness is a straightforward phrase, nevertheless it’s very onerous. Milchu has three kids, and when he killed somebody, he additionally destroyed his entire household, his world. I met one in all his daughters who instructed me that for 15 years after her father’s crime she hated him day-after-day for destroying their life. Then someday she understood that hating this man her entire life was horrible for her, so she determined to forgive him.

I associated this story to Milchu – he began to cry. He mentioned it was an important second of his life. He by no means knew his daughter had forgiven him. He mentioned he would die pleased.

For the Grace of God is published by Gost books (£60)

Vladimir Karamazov’s CV

Born: Bulgaria, 1979

High level: My biggest achievement is that I had the braveness, after 20 profitable years as an actor – enjoying main roles in movie, theatre and tv – to show to pictures and begin from scratch. To depart one life and got down to pursue one other – for me extra attention-grabbing – the place I confront the reality of our lives. As an actor I’m an interpreter, recreating actuality. As a photographer I’m a creator who captures and preserves actuality. Within six years I managed to go by many ranges of pictures, I received many awards, held main exhibitions and have created the tasks that excite me. Through my tasks I attempt to open a door for society to locations they don’t wish to look, have no idea what’s there, and are afraid of. When they peek by my open door, they see that it’s not so horrifying there, that folks like us stay there, too.

Top tip: I continuously urge folks to suppose just a little extra. When we hear one thing unhealthy about somebody, we’re instantly inclined to sentence them. But we have no idea their story, we have no idea why they dedicated a sure act, but we choose. If we give ourselves time and get to know that individual, we are going to be taught the explanation why they’re the best way they’re. This occurred to me with folks convicted of homicide. The act itself is horrifying. But whenever you be taught the entire story of that individual, whenever you perceive that they grew up with out household, with out love, in horrible squalor and starvation, you perceive why they’re that means.