David Sládek: People of Šumiac

The history of the village of Šumiac in the Central Slovakian Highlands dates back to the 15th century. Originally, it was defined by timber processing, livestock farming and glassworks. Today, the village at the foot of the Kráľova hoľa national mountain is known for its preservation of Slovak folklore and for its recreational value.

The village of Šumiac today is different to the one David Sládek learnt to appreciate 20 years ago. It was founded in the 15th century. The local economy was based on agriculture and the timber industry, and later on sawmills and glassworks were established. In the 19th century, many people worked as labourers in the ironworks of the surrounding areas. Many locals also found work in the 1930s, when the Červená skala – Margecany railway line was built. And so it went on for a long time up until the fall of the Iron Curtain. Unemployment rose increasingly; until a few decades ago, the economy was based on sheep farming and the timber industry. For a long time, traditional handicrafts also continued to provide a livelihood for many people. However, a lack of young people to carry on the traditions and the exodus of many residents has transformed the villages. What has been preserved are the original timber-framed houses with gabled roofs and open courtyards, as well as the intangible cultural heritage. 

The village lies close to the Muránska planina National Park, as well as the Low Tatras, making it a perfect area for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers. Far beyond the region, it is also known for its bell museum, which preserves the history of traditional pastoral culture. In addition to the local folklore, the nearby nature parks have been attracting growing numbers of tourists since the mid-2000s. When Sládek purchased his house in Šumiac in 2008, there were a few visitors every now and then, but no leisure industry. Most people travelled to the tourist areas of the Tatras or in the Low Tatras further west, “This trend ended during COVID when people started discovering work from home and tourists could travel domestically rather than internationally. Since then, the boom of electro bikes and steady increase of local accommodation has turned the village to a busy base for the Kráľova hoľa visitors,” the photographer says, referring to recent developments. Sládek also speaks about the increasing arrival of Romani people, which constitute the second largest ethnic minority in Slovakia. Around ten percent of the population (between 400,000 and 500,000 people) are Romani. In the meantime, according to the photographer, more Romani than non-Romani children attend the local village school. “The race question and societal differences still create anxiety and bad emotions in the locals,” he observes. Even so, the Slovak majority and the Romani minority appear to coexist harmoniously. The photographer conceived his series as a long-term project and, together with others, has made photography a fixed feature in the village. In 2019, Sládek co-founded the Šumiacky Fotofest, an event that combines photography and folklore. “The pictures are to be taken as a continuous diary of life of a village at the end of the road, but not the end of a journey. An attempt to capture memories not just for myself but also for the locals, to contribute to part of the visual history that will, hopefully, be continued by others,” he explains.

David Sládek’s series was submitted by Kevin V. Ton, who is part of this year’s group of international LOBA nominators.