Astana is a megacity and its heart will throb all the time - Vladimir Kurilov
Most your photos depict Astana city, what does Astana mean to you?
My fate and my life is closely related to this city. Many modern Astana inhabitants don't feel and don't know those feelings of people who were born here. Only native people can appreciate and feel everything that had been made over the years. Astana is my heart and its history is my life. I went by foot everywhere while the new capital was constructed; witnessed its bonanza period and made photos all the time. I remember all the back streets, buildings and places; and now I understand that Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Akmola have faced unparalleled changes.
During my working period at Genplan, I have seen how President of Kazakhstan corrected the Astana construction general plan. I have seen the architects' designs of new majestic buildings, their construction and they still marvel at these constructions.
I put my soul, my life, my Astana into each photo. When I photographed the old city, construction of the new capital, many people asked me: "Why do you do it?" - But now it's history, the history of my city! Many people do not understand the significance of this record, including my fellow photographers. My goal was to show people what the city was at the very beginning and what it has become today. My works they are like a big map of the capital, they depict today's appearance and the past of the city. They are like the family photos, which show a newborn baby, his first steps, and - growing up, happy moments.
When did you start to take photos of urban landscapes?
I started taking photos of the city from the moment I got my first photo camera. My mother gave it to me as a birthday, present when I was 12 years old. Since then I had this passion for this profession and my hometown.
What can you say about the period of capital transfer from Almaty to Astana?
A lot of people had doubts that Astana could become the real capital of Kazakhstan. However, notwithstanding all the difficulties, Astana became the cultural, political and economic center not only of Kazakhstan, but also of the whole world. I can say, Astana is a visible implementation of the personal will and energy of Head of our country Nursultan Nazarbayev.
What is your vision of Astana city in 15 years?
Perspectives are vast. Astana is a big megacity and its heart will throb and strengthen in time.
As for the immediate prospects: "Expo-2017" will be held in the nearest future, the event will change the face of the city and Astana will become even more beautiful and impressive architectural masterpiece.
I make photos of Astana city form different angles for many years: from the ground, from the bird's eye view, in different seasons and in different weather, at day and night - it never ceases to amaze me with its beauty.
I congratulate our city and all its residents and visitors on the Capital's Day, the 15th anniversary of our beloved Astana!
