Erotic photo session with Slutsk sash

The Slutsk sash found during an archaeological dig is kept in Bahdanovich Museum in Minsk. It lost its colour and turned grey because of being underground. However, photo artist Alena Adamchyk was impressed by its silver colour most of all.

"I liked scratches on the sash, they resembled scratches on photographic paper. It is very beautiful. I had seen colour sashes in museums but I liked that one”.

The photos were not published because they were considered too erotic in the 1990s. Alena Adamchyk did not know that only men had worn sashes back then. The photos were black and white so the silver sash looked very good on photographic paper.

"Such tissue suits women. I chose very young and beautiful girls. The silver sash and the photographic paper looked very harmonious. The girls were more realistic. The photo session was organized in my flat in Bahdanovich Street. I had a beautiful room there. We removed the wallpaper and whitewashed the walls. I loved taking photos in February as the sun was low. Sunlight reached the window and the lighting was very beautiful. Everything was cheap and modest, the linoleum was green. The colours were beautiful. The sash inspired me because it was silver”.

We took photos accompanied by a guard! None of the present, except for the representative of the museum, knew that such a sash could cost at least 100 thousand euro!

"There was a guard. I told him: “Would you like to go for a walk?” He said that he would wait in the adjoining room.  I did not know the cost of the sash. But I felt responsibility for it and I was proud as I understood that the cost was really high”.

The sash was presented to Bahdanovich Museum by a private person in 1986. It was made at Slutsk manufacture around 1760. It was not in a good condition as it was found underground. It was restored in 1993 and the museum allowed the photo session after the restoration.

"I like those people as they do not hide it and are not trying to make money on it. The culture belongs to all Belarusians. It was great to take pictures of the sash with a young beautiful woman. This is the real beauty and history that exists at the given moment. The photo session seemed very historical to me”.