This photo documentary captures the quiet decline of Luna Park, an abandoned amusement park in Baku, Azerbaijan, documented in January 2016. Luna Park was developed during the Soviet period as part of a broader trend of constructing public leisure spaces across the USSR. It became one of Baku’s earliest and most iconic recreational sites, especially cherished during the Soviet era and the early years of Azerbaijan’s independence.
Among the rusted roller coasters and overgrown walkways, I met the park’s last remaining presence: a security guard. He has watched over this empty park for years, bearing silent witness to its slow decline. His words gave voice to the silence around us:
“I’ve worked here as a security guard for many years. I remember when this place was full of people and full of life. It was beautiful, full of energy. It gave a whole generation a happy childhood and so many good memories. For some, it’s the ice cream their dad bought them. For others, it’s the snake-shaped balloon from their mom. Maybe even a scraped knee or the thrill of trying every ride in half an hour. Every part of this Luna Park reminds people of something joyful. But then the contracts ended, the road nearby was expanded, and they closed the main entrance. After that, it all started to slowly disappear. Everything that had been built over the years began to fall apart, little by little—right in front of my eyes. They sold off everything they could and the rest was left behind, just like this place… with me still here to guard it. Now we both wait, me and the park, until the day someone comes to take what’s left.”
His story turned this forgotten space into something more than just a location — it became a symbol of memory, longing and stillness.
“Luna Park: Fun is Over” is a quiet tribute to a place that once meant a lot to many. A quiet reminder of the spaces we leave behind — and the people who never quite let go.