
Old mine workers drink and argue in a bar at around 10 in the morning in Petrosani, Romania.
Genius Loci’ is an ongoing documentary photography project that aims to define the quintessential spirit of the Jiu Valley, Romania. While searching for this spirit, the only thing that can clearly be defined is the empty spot it left behind as it left the area and in the people who live there.
The valley has seen non-stop social and economic growth since the 1840s when coal was discovered in the area until the mid-90s when the shifting markets made them unable to sustain competitive prices on the international market. The mines started closing and the way of life that has been the norm in the area started to fade. As the economy gets worst and most of the mines are closed or in the process of closing nothing seems to come up to replace them.
The investments in tourism have dried up recently due to political reasons. Half-completed ski-lifts and hotels lie crumbling on the surrounding mountains before they ever open. In the valleys houses and mines crumble as well. The whole valley is silent. There are no sounds of industry, no distant rumble in the distance, and people seem to lie and wait for it to come back, or for something to replace it.
Gabriel Amza
V-Photo Agency
Idle people sit and look out the window looking for excitement in Lonea, Romania.
Miners wait to get on the elevator heading to the underground at the Petrila mine, in Petrila, Romania.
Dogs lie, half asleep, in a half detonated building of the Petrila mine.
A dog scavanges food through a garbage heap overlooking the Lupeni mine, in Lupeni, Romania.
Soon to be demolished buildings at the Petrila Mine,.
Mine towers overlook the Jiu river in Petrila.
Downtown Petrosani, the almost silent beating heart of the Jiu Valley.
A woman walks past the sign showing the way to the Lonea Mine, in Lonea, Romania.
People have little option for their free time than to smoke and drink, in spite of their low or nonexistent wages in Petrosani, Romania.
Members of the miner’s marching band lounge around their headquarters after playing at a miner’s wedding in Lupeni, Romania.
Gheorghe, a unemployed ex-con pours some liquor on his tatoos for ‘his brothers still in prison.’
A mop lies resting on a stair at the Petrila mine, in Petrila, Romania.
Old mine workers drink and argue in a bar at around 10 in the morning in Petrosani, Romania.
The janitor cleans out the locker room of the Petrila mine, in Petrila, Romania.
The disorderly graveyard of Petrila, Romania.
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