Photography: Rafal Milach photographs the winners of competitions in Belarus

The stunning photographs that make up Rafal Milach’s series document various winners of Belarusian state and local competitions. Rafal photographs “the best of the best” in kolkhozes, schools, nightclubs and village discos, and his raw and compelling photographs evoke both a country bursting with national pride, but also hint to a society in the midst of an oppressive, sinister regime. In order to photograph his subjects, Rafal became a propaganda photographer, endeavoring to portray winners of various national and regional level contests. The Winners is a striking and stripped-back series, which resonates in an intriguing and thought-provoking way.