My childhood was deeply influenced by Romania’s transition from socialism to capitalism. At the time, my parents among other young people realized that the whole state sustained system would collapse, so they started their own businesses. Their success was at the expense of the time they had with their children.I remember stories about how the state structure was shaken and how the doormen became managers after the managers were fired by new self proclaimed leaders. The tumult surrounded us, on the tv and in the news. Slowly, the new economic market established a strong division between classes. Some people owned businesses. Others were hired in adjacent countries, leaving their families behind, and some were still incorporated in the state system.

This series documents the state owned places that were frozen in a socialist past, and the people who chose to stay in them. It illustrates the neglect and stagnation after a half decade of economic and social upheaval. I found places that were soon to be closed and demolished, companies that in the past had 7000 employees and that have now little more than a dozen. The remaining employees are barely qualified for hire anywhere else.