Esther Garrison

About Photobook: "Trans-Siberian to the Closed City"

In 2018, my former Swedish state owned employer sent me to Siberia with a question: Is it socially responsible to buy uranium that comes from a Closed City, where the inhabitants have no freedom of movement and are under strict control and surveillance?

And so begins a strange journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. A journey to a place that is off-limits to most humans. A journey that begins with preconceived notions and prejudices, where the stereotypes about Closed Cities were both shattered, and, at times, reinforced. A journey where reality exceeded expectations. Nothing was as it seemed, but at the same time, it was. Krasnoyarsk 45 is one of the dozens of Closed Cities built by Stalin to house highly secret facilities for nuclear weapons production. These cities did not appear on maps until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. No one knew of their existence, not even the Soviet population.

At that time, living in a Closed City was a symbol of status and privilege. It not only meant living among highly educated people, it meant living in cities free of crime and with guaranteed provisions.

Today, there are 44 Closed Cities in Russia that continue to operate under strict control and surveillance. Today, Krasnoyarsk 45 is one of the largest producers of enriched uranium for nuclear plants. The city remains closed by choice of its inhabitants.

It is a journey from which I come back with more questions than answers. The feelings of disbelief, bewilderment, and confusion still persist when I look back. 

To see a sample of the photobook click here