TO most Westerners, Siberia remains distant, a place notorious for the horror of Stalin's prison camps.

Officially disbanded in 1960, the legacy of the gulag persists, and today the camps house around one million prisoners who still do forced labour.

In the second exhibition of this winter's In From The Cold season, Impressions Gallery in York presents the British premiere of Carl De Keyzer photographic documentary of these camps from January 29 to April 2.

De Keyzer photographed 35 camps over two years, exposing a harsh way of life isolated from the rest of the world. Shaven headed, gaunt young men crowd together to eat fish and hewn blocks of bread; a prisoner takes an icy outdoor shower in minus 50C conditions; another recovers from TB in a bleak ward.

Alongside these images, more surprising revelations are made: a gang of brawny, tattooed inmates labours under a bright blue sky; a smiling prisoner holds up his new-born baby; and female convicts smooch at the Saturday night disco.

The award-winning Keyzer, a 46-year-old Belgian, is a member of the Magnum photo agency, founded by Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1947. His photography, often in startling colour, has a jolting impact with its immediacy, but the chance for a more reflective look at his work comes with the publication of Zona, Siberian Prison Camps (published by Trolley at £29.95 and available through the website www.trolleynet.com).

Impressions will present two free events to tie in with the Zona show, starting on February 19 at noon with Feed Your Mind, an informal guided tour by education manager Helen Rice, who will discuss the exhibition over a free cup of tea or coffee.

Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror will be screened with subtitles on March 3 at 7pm. Made in 1974, this is the Russian director's most autobiographical film, reflecting his own childhood and the destiny of the Russian people.

Impressions, in Castlegate, York, is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm. Admission is free.

Updated: 15:53 Thursday, January 06, 2005