Where where? In Karaganda!, Monument to a city expression in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
This installation is a 3-meter-tall polymer monument featuring text that displays the popular Soviet-era phrase 'Where where? In Karaganda!' The structure stands in a central location and serves as a recognizable landmark in the city.
The monument was inaugurated on May 28, 2011, through collaboration between creators Bari Alibasov, Murat Mansurov, and Vikentiy Komkov. It marks the moment when an everyday Soviet phrase was transformed into a permanent urban landmark.
This public installation represents a Soviet-era expression that made Karaganda a nationwide point of reference in everyday speech. Visitors can sense how the phrase became woven into the language and identity of the region.
The monument sits in an easily accessible location near Bukhar-Zhyrau Street and works well as an orientation point for visitors. It is accessible at any time and offers a good outdoor photo spot.
The phrase 'Where where? In Karaganda!' was a widespread joke during Soviet times and was used to describe a distant, almost mythical location. The monument preserves this linguistic footnote of history and turns it into a tangible part of the city's character.
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