GQ South Africa — May 2017

84 GQ.CO.ZA MAY 2017

REPORT

The Khazakhstan Central Concert Hall stands out like a pricey futuristic trophy

concrete
communist-era
buildings. In
Almaty, there’s
some modern
development and
that’s where a lot
of wealthy people
live, but Astana is
the big CBD.’
Kazakhstan
shares borders
with Russia,
China, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan, and
a large part of the
Caspian Sea. In

1936, it became part of the Soviet Union

and despite its subsequent independence,

Russia remains its closest ally – a large

part of the reason why Nazarbayev chose

to move the capital closer.

‘Culturally speaking, there’s a huge

identity and relationship with Russia,’

says Koopmans. ‘Half the population is

ethnic Russian in the north, and the

language they prefer is Russian.

Politically, they’re still on good terms

because Nazarbayev has been in power

since the fall of the Union. It’s deinitely

their closest partner.’

Summer temperatures in Astana can

hit 35°C, though winters are cruel and the

months between December and March

can get as cold as -35°C. When it was irst

created, Astana was

named the world’s

second-coldest

capital city – after

Ulaanbaatar in

Mongolia –

knocking Ottowa

in Canada down

to third spot.

‘I’ve largely been in

the spring and

summer,’ says

Koopmans, ‘so the

main thing I want

to do is go back and

shoot during the

dead of winter

• even though I’ve

heard it’s absolutely miserable.’

Astana also has bold ambitions –

nominated as one of the potential host

cities in Kazakhstan’s bid for the 2022

Winter Olympic Games. Its stadiums have

held international cycling and speed

skating races as well as basketball and

football games. his year, the city will host

the 2017 World Fair, an international

convention on sustainable energ y options

• ignoring the fact that the whole place was
  paid for by oil.
  As for its future, Koopmans remains
  unsure. ‘It’s so dependent on the global
  markets for resources. Plus, Nazarbayev
  hasn’t declared a natural successor and
  he’s quite old. But if all things are good,
  I imagine it will just continue to grow.’