With the smart tag line “Discover the Full Story,” the Schusev State Museum of Architecture in Moscow recently released a seriously slick advertising campaign. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi Russia, it sees historic Russian buildings extending far into the ground as if the part we’re familiar with was only the peak of a much larger building. It’s as if archeologists had one day explored deep into the basement and discovered they were really in the attic. [Read more...]
There is not much more beautiful than being in nature late at night and seeing your surroundings illuminated by the moon, but what if you could take that natural night light with you to light up darkness wherever you go? This idea was the inspiration for an installation of photographs by Leonid Tishkov and Boris Bendikov. The Russian artists titled the series “Private Moon” and hoped to tell an everlasting love story of a man who becomes so infatuated with the majestic, crescent moon that he takes her with him as he travels from the mountains to the country to the city and everywhere in between. See more photos from the collection on [Read more...]
Nothing is sacred in Victoria Tsarkova’s new series and show, No Politics. Just a Joke. She has taken key figures from the world of politics and culture, mashing them up in unexpected ways which are highly satirical, funny and even a bit offensive. The 20 works recently featured in her current show near Moscow is drawing an enthusiastic crowd. [Read more...]
Earlier this year they were a mostly unknown feminist punk band from Russia… but now they have become an international phenomenon and a wakeup call to the reality of social freedoms in the modern Russian Federation. The group, called Pussy Riot staged an illegal concert on February 21st, on the steps of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. [Read more...]
Would you like to go for a walk? How about in Kiev, Ukraine in a place called Andrews Descent? Recently reopened, photographer Elektraua shot photos of the place which is often described as the “Montmartre of Kiev”, using infrared film. [Read more...]
If the geniuses behind Monty Python had been working a number of decades earlier, their films might have looked a lot like these quirky remixed photographs from Flux Machine, the strange blog of Kevin Weir. Using vintage imagery from The Library of Congress, Weir cuts and animates his moving GIFs in a style reminiscent of the Flying Circus’ animations, creating something otherworldly and in this case, even a little creepy. Black and white images of russian Czars, german soldiers and even entire buildings, first appear as if they are the original print, then they quickly morph into something bizarre, unexpected and often amusing. [Read more...]
The innovative and revolutionary duo, brothers Vladimir and Georgii Stenberg, left an undeniable mark on design history. Growing up in Moscow during a time of huge upheaval, their talented hands kept busy working in graphic design, sculpture and theater… quickly establishing them as members of the avant-garde during the 1920s and early 1930s. [Read more...]
Eastern Europe adopted modern design in the 50′s and 60′s like no other area of the world. From architecture to propaganda posters, the modern and minimalist aesthetic was everywhere. One of the common places these designs found a home was on the matchbox covers of the general public. In communist countries, propaganda for the space race was popular, but so were public health announcements about alcohol abuse, hygiene and safety on the roads… in the case of the labels displayed here, the simple message was to enjoy the beautiful outdoor colors of autumn [Read more...]
These incredible posters produced by the Soviet Union’s Moscow based news agency, TASS, during the Second World War, show the history of the conflict from a particularly vibrant and often gruesome Soviet perspective. The large prints, reaching between 5 and 10 feet tall, were displayed in shop windows throughout the war, with nearly a poster produced for every day of Russian involvement (1941-1945). Like an artistic journal, the posters (displayed here in chronological order) are especially interesting in the way the they track the progress of the war and the attitudes of their creators as the conflict progressed. [Read more...]
High school yearbook photos are often something people look back on and say, “really, we thought that was cool?” I mean, what about those laser backgrounds from the early 90′s? HOT.
Not looking to recreate the past, these clever Russian high school students created their own backdrops on a chalkboard with simple instructions – express yourself. What resulted was something highly more unique and insightful than the average portrait, giving us a window into the kids hopes, dreams and passions. The clever interaction of the students with their drawings has a Ben Heine sort of feel to it, while the punchy colors and wide angle perspective add a further element connecting them with their imagination. Will these students look back from 20 years with pride at their photos? I think so. [Read more...]
