Cities that are not on the map: 19 pictures of closed cities from an Austrian photographer

The concept of a closed city appeared in the Soviet Union. It was in the USSR that the first settlements fenced were built, access to which was allowed only by passes. In general, they led a normal life, except that in such cities military facilities could be located, or factories for the production of weapons (chemical or conventional), or radioactive waste was processed.

By analogy with the Soviet Union, closed cities appeared in other countries: from Qatar to the United States. But it is Russia that is the leader in their number; today 39 ZATOs operate in the country.

It was such places, remote from the public, that the Austrian photographer Gregor Seiler wanted to capture. However, he invested more in the concept of “closed city”, showing not trivial ZATOs, but territories that were generally isolated from the rest of the world. And they are isolated not only by a fence, but also by a hostile environment, and military operations, a very harsh climate and inaccessibility. Raw mines, refugee camps, military bases, settlements for the rich - all this fell into the Austrian’s lens. And his photographs of settlements with limited access reflect the essence and problems of our world at the beginning of the 21st century: climate change, political conflicts, Earth's resources, which are being depleted at an incredible speed, and the desire for absolute security.

While working on the project, Sailer faced difficulties of various kinds. So, about most of these settlements I had to collect information bit by bit, because it is not in the public domain.

But it was especially difficult at military bases and in refugee camps, where they had to work under constant control and with armed people. Other climatic tests fell to the photographer’s lot: in Qatar, they were waiting for + 65 ° C, and for Russia –50 ° C, and often it was simply impossible to work on the street.