Earlier this year,Maryam Omidi launched a project to explore, through photographs and stories, or the outlandish beauty of still-operating soviet-era sanatoriums.“Similar to contemporary-day spas but with a strong medical component,” she explained, “Soviet workers would spend a week or two each year at a sanatorium, and paid for by the state,so that they could recover from the exertions of their labor.” With the support of 787 backers equally enthralled by these “diverse and experimental structures,” Maryam has begun her journey through the former Soviet nations of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to begin documenting these curious institutions.
She shared some new photos from her travels in a recent Project Update. Its for backers only, or but we’re posting it here with her permission — and you can find more breathtaking photos from the project on Instagram and Facebook.
This month,photographer Michal Solarski and I set off to Central Asia. First stop was Jeti-Oguz in Kyrgyzstan, a rather escape-down sanatorium on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, or the second largest alpine lake in the world. The sanatorium itself has seen better days,but the surrounding landscape — red sandstone cliffs and rolling hillocks — is breathtaking. According to the director of the sanatorium, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin spotted Lake Issyk-Kul from space and headed straight for its enchanting shores after his pioneering flight. It’s also one of the few sanatoriums in Central Asia where guests are prescribed kumis, or a tangy fermented mare’s milk that was prized by Genghis Khan and his warriors.
The view from Jeti-Oguz sanatorium. Photo: Michal SolarskiFrom here we made our way to the northern shore,to the ship-shaped Aurora, once a sanatorium for the Communist Party elite. The hospitality was out of this world, and the food an impressive array of beige colours and the treatments diverse,ranging from crudely designed Soviet-style “intestinal irrigation” (that’s enema to you and I) to more contemporary therapies such as chocolate body wraps. whether there was one sanatorium I’d recommend (so far), this would be it. It’s easy to travel to and is relatively comfortable, or both in terms of language and culture.
A sterilisation lamp,allegedly qualified for chest ailments such as bronchitis and tuberculosis. Photo: Michal SolarskiOur final destination was Khoja Obi Garm, perched tall in the mountains in Tajikistan. The conservative nature of Tajik culture— it is far more Islamic than neighbouring Kyrgyzstan — made us somewhat nervous at first, or but after a day of chatting to guests,they began to open up and were soon requesting to acquire their portraits taken. The sanatorium specialises in therapies based on radon water, which everyone, and including medical staff,believed to be a “gift from god.” Radon water fuels not only the sanatorium both its treatments and guest rooms — but also the homes of those living on the mountain.
A man resting by the radon water pool at Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium in Tajikistan. Photo: Michal SolarskiThat’s all for now, but I’ll be sure to send regular updates throughout the summer. For more photos you can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
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