Janos Enyedi
Chernobyl/Pripyat
Chernobyl
As part of an October, 2007 trip to Ukraine under the auspices of the
US Department of State Art In Embassies Program, I was afforded the
rare opportunity to visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It is the site of
the worst Nuclear disaster in history. In the early morning hours of April
26, 1986, a massive explosion and fire occurred in Reactor #4,
spreading toxic levels of radiation over a wide area.
Pripyat
Also, immediately affected was the adjacent city of Pripyat (now
known as Dead Town). At the time of the accident it housed 44,000
plant workers and their families. It was abandoned overnight.
Built in 1970, it was essentially a self-contained city, complete
with schools, a hospital, cultural center, restaurant and cafes,
hotel and even a newly-constructed Amusement Park. The park
was scheduled to open on May Day 1986. No one ever rode on
the rides.
The most compelling aspect of Chernobyl is how “normal” it all
appears. Catfish teem in the reactor cooling channels and apple
trees are loaded with fruit - all of it deadly and the general
radiation levels remain dangerously high.
What is striking about Pripyat is the overwhelming silence.
All images are printed on archival paper using archival inks. All images
dimensions are unframed. All images are copyright Janos Enyedi,
Furnace Road Studio.
1. Abandoned Worker Housing,
Main Street, Pripyat 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 12.5” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 26.5” L. 24” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 36” Edition: 3
2. Phone Booth, Main Street, Pripyat 2007
Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 15.5” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 25.5” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 56.25” L. 40” Edition: 3
3. Pripyat University, Pripyat 2007 Digital
Print
Small Scale: H. 16” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 24” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 60” L. 40” Edition: 3
4. Neon Sign, Pripyat University, Pripyat
2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 14.25” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 24” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 60” L. 40” Edition: 3
5. Grand Plaza, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 15.25” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 27.25” L. 38” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 55.5” Edition: 3
6. Hotel Polissia, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 38” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
7. Restaurant, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 10.75” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 25.5” L. 38” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 38.75” L. 60” Edition: 3
8. Cultural Center (Detail), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 38” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
9. Fire Escape,Cultural Center (Detail), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 10.5” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24.5” L. 38” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 38.75” L. 60” Edition: 3
10. Forbidden Fruit, Stage Door Patio, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 12.5” L. 13” Edition: 25 Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 24.5” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 41.25” L. 40” Edition: 3
11. Party Room Mural, Cultural Center, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 5.25” L. 16.5” Edition: 25 Medium Scale: H. 11.5” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 25.5” L. 80” Edition: 3
12. Doll, Stage Door Patio, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
13. May Day Decorations, Prop Room #2, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
14. Prop Room, Detail, Pripyat,
2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 16.5” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 24” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 60” L. 40” Edition: 3
15. Ferris Wheel, Pripyat,
2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 14.25” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 27.5” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 52.25” L. 40” Edition: 3
16. Ferris Wheel (Detail), Pripyat,
2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
17. Ferris Wheel Car, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 16.5” L. 10.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 22.5” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 60” L. 37.5” Edition: 3
18. Boat Swing Ride (Detail), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 9” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 20” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 35.5” L. 60” Edition: 3
19. Boat, Amusement Park, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 9” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 20” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 35.5” L. 60” Edition: 3
20. TILT-O-WHIRL, Amusement Park, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 7.5” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 16.5” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 27.75” L. 60” Edition: 3
21. Memento - TILT-O-WHIRL, Amusement Park, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 6.25” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 13.75” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 23” L. 60” Edition: 3
22. Bumper Car Ride, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
23. Bumper Car Ride (Detail #1), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
24. Bumper Car Ride (Detail #2), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
25. Bumper Car Ride (Detail #3), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
26. Bumper Car Ride (Detail #4), Pripyat,
2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 16.5” L. 11” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 36” L. 24” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 60” L. 40” Edition: 3
27. Wall Decoration (Bubbles), Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 9” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 19.5” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 32.5” L. 60” Edition: 3
28. Vole, Path to the Boat House 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
29. Boat House Window #1, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3
30. Boat House Window #2, Pripyat, 2007 Digital Print
Small Scale: H. 11” L. 16.5” Edition: 25
Medium Scale: H. 24” L. 36” Edition: 10
Large Scale: H. 40” L. 60” Edition: 3