Kirovsk

The city of Kirovsk in the Murmansk region. I first came here to ski in 2022. Literally everything here struck me. The local Khibiny resort is known for its steep slopes and lack of vegetation. The mountains here drive the tourist flow, provide jobs for miners, shape the living landscape, and generate harsh weather conditions. The environment here is aggressive and bleak. The city is surrounded by a massive industrial zone formed by the local enterprise "Apatit." Building new housing here is practically impossible due to several natural and environmental reasons. Besides, the population has no such demand.

The album features photographs taken during winter and autumn. This approach was chosen to demonstrate the human habitat not only in difficult winter conditions but also to show that life doesn't get any easier without the snow. It covers the central district and the Kukisvumchorr working-class neighborhood. There are also several images taken on the slopes of Mount Aikuaivenchorr. Despite the very challenging living conditions, the people here are friendly and helpful, and the children smile as brightly as in any other region of Russia. The city is a key point on the map of Russian alpine skiing, thanks to its infrastructure and extreme slopes.The album includes images of the "modern landscaping" in the Kukisvumchorr district. I leave it to the viewer to judge the impact of this "new" development.

My relationship with this city is like visiting a thrilling attraction, something like a "haunted maze." The fading cityscape is literally squeezed on all sides by the mountains, which simultaneously nourish and drain the life out of it. Humans affect the mountains too — they literally eat them. It turns out that the interaction between man and environment here happens through confrontation. Man consumes the mountains that create unbearable conditions for survival. This is what makes this place unique. I was also struck by the enormous number of garages. They form entire streets here, and all sorts of things happen inside them. My emotions are complex, but I find myself returning to them again and again. I don't delude myself, so I have no faith in the development of such territories. As long as there is mining, there are people, and there is life. Enjoy the viewing.

Filming dates: 03.2022, 03.2023, 09.2024