A POWERFUL photography project has helped a 21-year-old asylum seeker secure a place at one of the UK’s top art schools.
Ruslan Popov Karhunvatukka, from Russia, earned direct entry into the third year of the communication design degree at the Glasgow School of Art after studying photography at Glasgow Kelvin College.
His graduate project, Vaguely Familiar, was inspired by three years of family separation and explores themes of distance, reunion and connection through photography.
The work captures the emotional impact of long-term separation and was produced after reuniting with his sister and aunt in Armenia in late 2024.
Ruslan said: “I hadn’t seen parts of my family in three years.
“When we finally met again, it wasn’t something I planned to photograph, but the moments just happened.
“That emotional experience became a visual one, it became the project.”
His journey is being highlighted by Glasgow Kelvin College as part of National Opportunity Day, an awareness campaign on August 6 that aims to showcase the value of college education.
Originally from Tomsk in Siberia and later Sochi, Ruslan and his family sought asylum in the UK for political reasons, first arriving in London during the Covid-19 pandemic before relocating to Glasgow.
Despite the difficulties of the immigration process, he said he now feels settled and proud to call Glasgow his home.
He credits Glasgow Kelvin College with helping him turn a personal interest into a professional pathway.
Ruslan said: “Photography was already part of my life, but studying at Glasgow Kelvin College gave me the tools to take it seriously.
“It gave me time, structure, feedback and belief.
“That’s what college can do.”
Ruslan chose Glasgow Kelvin College specifically for its small class sizes and personal support, and singled out lecturer Simon Murphy as a major influence in his work.
He said: “Simon believed in us and took time to understand our ideas.
“He pushed us to submit work to exhibitions and magazines.
“That’s how I ended up published in Docu Magazine.
“Without that encouragement, I wouldn’t have done it.”
In September, Ruslan will begin his degree at the Glasgow School of Art, where he will expand his practice to include design, illustration and video.
He plans to continue developing Vaguely Familiar and is already working on a new project about society’s changing relationship with photography in the digital age.
Ruslan said: “Opportunity is a green light to keep on dreaming.
“When I got my offer from GSA, it felt like I could finally start expecting something from myself.
“It gave me confidence.
“Studying communication design will give me more tools.
“Photography will always be at the heart of what I do, but I want to understand other ways to tell stories too.”
To view Ruslan’s latest projects, visit @rusikpix on Instagram.
