Silk Reeling Factory in Grain Elevator Nizhny Novgorod

Flat noon light floods the vast interior of a grain elevator near Nizhny Novgorod, illuminating rows of copper vats filled with steaming water. Inside these vessels, silk cocoons unwind into fine, glistening threads that drift upward. The high-altitude air creates a sharp, crisp clarity despite the heavy overcast monsoon skies visible through the industrial windows. Rusty steel beams and heavy machinery dominate the space, their surfaces gleaming with moisture and oil. Large metal pipes run along the concrete walls, connecting the reeling stations. The water in the vats shimmers with a pale, iridescent sheen as the threads spiral into the liquid. One copper basin reflects the dull gray light from the ceiling.