Colorful identities

Gulmira is ethnically Kazakh and was raised in Russia, where Russian and Kazakh cultures have shaped her identity. Her story challenges common assumptions about nationality, ethnicity, and belonging. As she prepares to marry an Indian, another cultural layer is being added to her journey. In these photographs, she wears a traditional Kazakh ethnic cap paired with North Indian attire—a lehenga and choli—symbolizing both her heritage and the new traditions she is about to embrace. This series explores the complexity of cultural identity and how multiple influences can coexist, creating something unique and more colorful.