Map Icons
Journeys of perception Alter/Native realities of modern Mongolia Invasion Letter to East Turkestan Dodeskaden Women & ways Old airport: my personal homeland Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru Tasting ethnic politics along roadsides Nomadtitude Speed bump Identifying a leader Epic failure Anthropology & Art Catalog Trail A dream in Shambala Way to Rome
Map Icons
Trail Epic failure A dream of Shambala Journeys of perception Dodeskaden Old airport: my personal homeland Alter/Native realities of modern Mongolia Tasting ethnic politics along roadsides The way to Rome Identifying a leader Nomadtitude Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru Speed bump Letter to East Turkestan Catalog Anthropology & Art Invasion Women & ways

Project’s website

Old airport: my personal homeland

A story about the old airport in Bishkek – a sacred place for Shailo Djekshenbaev, where he began his artistic journey.

The old airport has a complicated story. Back in 1961, I moved to Frunze to continue my studies after eight years of school in my home village. I settled with my aunt, who lived near the airport. Back then it was called ‘the Frunze Airport,’ nobody called it old. Old it became only after the new one was built.

I fell asleep and woke up to the roar of aircraft engines. This roar became the first sign of urban civilization for me. I had to adapt and study in the capital. The hum was always different and I liked it – it helped me to get involved in the rhythm of the capital.

I didn’t know then that long in the future this would become the main theme of my photography. Only after many years did I come back here.

Shailo Djekshenbaev

Shailo Djekshenbaev was born in 1947 in Kyrgyzstan. After graduating with a diploma in architecture in 1971, he began his professional career as an architect. In 1979 his passion for cinematography led him to the Cinema Academy of Goskino USSR in Moscow, where he studied animated film direction. Up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Djekshenbaev was creating animations in the Kyrgyzfilm studio. Since 1992 he has become a freelance photographer. He lives and works in Kyrgyzstan.

One of the main themes of his work is the series of changes that have occurred in Kyrgyz society since the country’s independence in 1991. This includes architectonical and environmental changes as well as the development of contemporary art in Kyrgyzstan. He participates in many international art exhibitions both inside and outside Kyrgyzstan.

RETURN TO MAP