“More Necessary than the Sun” is a photographic journey into the environmental and human toll of extreme pollution in the Central Balkans. Begun in 2022, the project captures the alarming impact of outdated coal plants, vast lignite mines, and weak oversight, which have led to some of Europe’s highest pollution levels. Through this series, the project confronts viewers with the stark consequences of environmental exploitation often fueled by foreign corporations in what is seen as neo-colonialism