A man turned centuries old Belarusian madhouse into gallery

Inside the 300-year-old hospital reborn as an art hub / Photo: Anna Ivanova, realt.onliner.by

In Belarus, a man purchased a complex of abandoned buildings once used as a psychiatric hospital for just $100 and transformed it into a thriving art space.

The psychiatric hospital, located in the village of Zhodishki in the Grodno region, ceased operations after a fire in 2019. Patients were transferred to other medical facilities, and the buildings were sealed and later put up for auction. The buyer, Dmitri, acquired several structures along with roughly 3.7 acres of surrounding land.

Photo: Anna Ivanova, realt.onliner.by

The site’s history stretches back centuries. Built in the 18th century as a Jesuit college, the structure later became a manor house before being converted into a psychiatric hospital during the Soviet era.

Photo: Anna Ivanova, realt.onliner.by

After the hospital closed, the complex stood vacant for years. Doors were boarded up, and the interiors slowly deteriorated.

Photo: Anna Ivanova, realt.onliner.by

After purchasing the property, Dmitri decided not only to preserve the complex but also to reimagine its purpose. He converted one former office into a living space, where he now resides, and turned the remaining rooms — including corridors and former patient wards — into an art gallery.

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Dozens of works by Belarusian artists, ranging from established professionals to amateurs, are now on display. Paintings hang in former wards and utility rooms, with peeling paint, faded signage and barred windows intentionally left intact as part of the experience. Visitors say the contrast between the building’s troubled past and its creative present gives the space a distinctive atmosphere.

@darya_stein_ Welcome to Жодишки! 2 этажа работ современных художников в гнетущей атмосфере а психиатрической больницы и полной тишине (добраться на второй этаж можно через комнату мужского туалета) #искусство #выставкаминск #галерея #сучаснаемастацтва ♬ Gymnopédie no. 1 – Romi Kopelman

The project quickly gained traction on social media, particularly on TikTok, and Zhodishki has since attracted visitors from across the country. The exhibition is open on weekends. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged.