Ryan Koopmans Documents the Unseen Faces of Kazakhstan's Old and New Capital

Amsterdam-based photographer Ryan Koopmans travelled to Kazakhstan, whose current capital is Astana, where it was moved in 1997 from Almaty, the country’s largest city. Ryan’s images picture the country’s massive effort to make Astana a capital worth to visit and notice, although the results may convey a rather dated aura.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Manicured garden swans in front of the Kaz Munai Gas Building in the central business district of Astana were part of a competition for ‘small architectural forms and decorative sculptures’ to celebrate Kazakh national culture.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
A neoclassical grand boulevard runs through Astana’s central business district. The decorative geometric patterns derive from traditional Kazakh motifs.
Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Paddleboats travel alongside the artificially constructed banks of the Ishim River, Astana.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

The walls of a high-rise construction site in Astana are wrapped in decorative illustrations depicting a pastoral Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

Almaty’s Sunkar International Ski Jumping Complex seen in the early spring.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
View of residential Almaty at the base of the Tien Shan mountain range.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
A large pipeline transports fresh water from Big Almaty Lake reservoir, through the Tien Shan Mountains into the southern city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. Big Almaty Lake is located at an altitude of 2500 meters, and is the main source of drinking water supplying the city and region below.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Aerial view of Astana’s neo-baroque Avenue of the Republic: The grand center of the new town.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Members of a wedding party race through the open roads of Astana in the summer time.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Youth socialize along the artificial banks of the Ishim River, Astana.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
A quirky façade banner advertisement on a building in central Almaty.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Old and new cityscape infrastructure seen at sunset in central Astana.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens
Astana Day celebrations of July 6, celebrating both the inauguration of the new capital city Astana, which coincides with President Nazarbayev’s birthday, also July 6.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

Girls wade in one of Astana’s multiple outdoor fountains.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

A bulldozer digs into the Ishim river, presumably for future development in Astana.

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

Members of the military arrange barriers in Panfilov Park, Almaty, in preparation for Victory Day, a national holiday that celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (World War Two).

Kazakhstan, Ryan Koopmans, photography, travel. capital, Asia, Astana, Almaty, city, construction, post modern, buildings, gardens

A French fashion photographer on a city tour rides a horse presented to him by locals, near the tourist attraction Medeu in Almaty.


All images © Ryan Koopmans – [email protected]


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