“In Karaganda” offers us a trip to the interior of Kazakhstan. A non-judgmental look at daily life in a region that played a crucial role in the industrialization and modernization of the now-forgotten coal-producing Soviet Union. Little is known about this region today other than that it has returned to prominence as an exporter after the Ukraine-Russia War. A tour that starts from Karaganda, the capital of the province of the same name, to the Shubarkol Komir coal mine, passing through Temirtau, considered one of the most polluted cities on the planet. As we enter the region a feeling of loneliness and abandonment begins to permeate the environment.
The viewer can observe the old traces of the Soviet Union, the immensity of the steppes, the faces weathered by relentless winters, buildings that saw better days decades ago or communities living a few meters from steel mills the size of a city. The images of the steelworks in Temirtau mix an apocalyptic vision with a tribute to the weeks of hard battle at the Azovstal steelworks, Mariupul, during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Despite the melancholy tone, the exhibit ultimately serves as a tribute to the resilience and perseverance of the people of Karaganda, who have refused to let their region fade into darkness. It is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.