By Alex
For many backpackers, Eastern Europe remains a largely unexplored frontier. Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union, its republics gained independence one after another, but what followed were intermittent ethnic independence wars that deterred foreign tourists and unfortunately led to the destruction of many historical treasures by conflict — a truly lamentable outcome.
▲ A sanatorium abandoned since the Abkhazian War in the 1990s.
James Kerwin, a fine art photographer from the UK, has a passion for photographing abandoned buildings, dedicated to uncovering the hidden historical, artistic, and cultural gems within them. Recently, he traveled to the disputed Eastern European nation of Abkhazia (Abkhazia), capturing images of numerous structures that have lain derelict for years. Though the buildings and their decorations are now worn and crumbling, through James’s lens, hints of their former grandeur can still be glimpsed, evoking nostalgic echoes of the Soviet-era Eastern Europe.
▲ Although the sanatorium’s floor has peeled away, its ceiling remains strikingly beautiful.
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▲ What was once a majestic building is now a hideout for drug users.
A bit more background on Abkhazia: The Republic of Georgia was one of the former Soviet republics and declared independence in 1991. The following year, the Abkhazia region in the west also sought independence and launched a war against Georgia. Backed by Russia, Abkhazia fought Georgia in several battles and eventually broke away from Georgian government control, proclaiming the establishment of the Republic of Abkhazia. To this day, only a handful of countries recognize the Republic of Abkhazia as a sovereign state.
Located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Abkhazia currently has a population of about 240,000. The country still has no airport, so access is only possible by land: travelers can enter from Sochi in Russia or Zugdidi in Georgia.
▲ One of Abkhazia’s abandoned train stations.
▲ The corridor of the train station.
▲ A sanatorium in Georgia that has also been abandoned for years.
▲ Photo taken by James’s companion, Wandering Dan; James handled the post-processing.
▲ This abandoned sanatorium features many exquisitely designed staircases.
▲ Blue walls paired with pink pillars and ceilings give off a strong Eastern European vibe.
▲ A breathtaking suspension bridge! James didn’t say whether he crossed it himself, only mentioning that the constant swaying made photography quite challenging.
Source: James Kerwin@Instagram, James Kerwin’s personal website