MOSCOW
METRO
I first visited Moscow in late 2014 and discovered that its
metro stations were absolutely remarkable – it then took
months to get permission to photograph them. With the help
of a Russian producer, I was eventually able to gain access
after hours, and was allowed 40 minutes in each, shooting
about four per night. The metro was opened in 1935 and was
intended to culturally jumpstart Stalin’s new Russia,
instilling a sense of pride and putting forward a grand face to
the world. The stations were designed by various architects
and reflect their different styles, from Art Deco to mock-Italian
palazzos – with lots of marble, mosaics, sculptures and
chandeliers. They were conceived as ‘palaces for the people’
where workers were given a cultural experience typically
reserved for the wealthy; a theme of light symbolises the
‘bright future’ of Communism. Today, Moscow’s metro is one
of the busiest in the world, and it was amazing to be in these
spaces when they were empty. I had no idea of the sheer scale
of some of them; I tried to translate that in my photos, but it’s
really something that needs to be experienced first-hand.
Though the stations feel old, they’ve been maintained well in
their original state – there’s no advertising, and no sense of the
21st century being laid over the top. Entering feels like
stepping into a massive antique, or back in time.DAVID BURDENY is a Canadian travel photographer with a background in
architecture and interior design. See more of his work at davidburdeny.com.The Photographer’s Story
DAVID BURDENY