opening of photo exhibition: Jakub Kamiński’s THE WHISPERERS

Whisperers are people who believe they possess a gift from God, giving them the power to heal all kinds of diseases and physical pain. They claim that they are also able to throw spells and charms, and free people from evil possession. The name probably comes from the way they treat their believers, whispering special prayers into their ears. Whisperers are most of all elderly women. They live in small villages in Podlasie, a few kilometers from Belarus. They derive from the Orthodox Church but today the Church doesn’t want to recognize them, cutting itself from that kind of practices. Whisperers treat patients all day in their houses or special sacred places. Most of them don’t charge any money for their services and they have regular patients, not just from nearby villages. For years whisperers have been a part of Podlasie.

Jakub Kamiński, holds a degree in photography from Lodz Film School. He worked as a professional photographer for “Zycie” and “Rzeczpospolita” daily newspapers. He was a part of reportage group formed by Getty Images Emerging Talent till. Now he is a staff photographer at the Polish Press Agency and European Photopress Agency. He is also involved in his own documentary projects, such as “The Sobering Chamber” (about post-communist facilities for alcoholics), “Salaryman” (about overworked Japanese corporate workers) or “The Whisperers” for which he received an honourable mention at 10th edition of the National Geographic Photo Contest.