Snow is an intimate photographic exploration of Kars, a Turkish city steeped in centuries of complex history. Once the capital of Armenian kingdoms and later a strategic frontier for Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans, Kars embodies the cultural and political entanglements of empires. A pivotal moment came with the Russian takeover during the 1877–78 Russo-Turkish War. Following repeated sieges, Russia annexed Kars and established the Kars Oblast under a military-native government, reshaping its demographics and governance. This project reflects on the layered past of Kars—from colonial transformations and ethnic migrations to shared human experiences—challenging Orientalist narratives by revealing universal connections. The book features several texts that intertwine images with the intricate social context. Dr. Kübra Zeynep Sarıaslan also examined Snow by Orhan Pamuk from an anthropological perspective and contributed an essay to the book.

The book was published by The Velvet Cell in early 2025.

• 120 pages, 210 x 280 mm
• Hardcover
• ISBN 978-3-911782-00-5
• Limited Edition of 500

Please check out the publisher's website to purchase the book.

Reviews and overviews of the project in the media:

Kampfplatz der Imperien, Dekoder (German);

A Dot on the Map of Empires, Perito (Russian);

Traces of Empire, Republic (Russian);

Snow: a Review by Jens Pepper , Photonews (German)

In Max Sher's Book Snow Covers All Traces, Art Focus Now (English)

The Price of Snow, Form Magazine (English)

Snow by Max Sher, Viewfinder Chronicles (English)