Blast from the Past: The Futuristic Flying Saucer Gas Stations of Soviet-Era Kyiv
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kyiv introduced “flying saucer” gas stations with a unique design inspired by Japan’s “sky pumps,” where hoses were suspended from above for easier refueling. Continue reading »
Anton Frolov’s Iconic Futurism
At the beginning of his career, Anton combined the laconism of Japanese manga and the plasticity of iconography in his works. Continue reading »
Emotional Nostalgic Photos of Soviet Children that Have Become Iconic
Village children’s doctor conducts an examination. Dmitry Baltermants, 1970s
Young pioneers playing in a kindergarten, outdoor adventures, civil defense lessons – these aren’t just routine moments of Soviet childhood. You’ve probably encountered these scenes more than once, either because they’ve been emblematized as joyful snapshots of Soviet upbringing, or because of their sheer emotional intensity. We’ve meticulously curated the cream of the crop into a captivating collection you simply can’t miss! Continue reading »
The Scariest Soviet Toys Ever Made
Fluffy the Bunny
Within the vast collection of dolls produced in the USSR, some were universally cherished and desired by every child. However, others took a decidedly different route in their appeal. If you have a sensitive disposition towards such topics, please proceed with caution! Continue reading »
Unearthing Urban Artifacts with Andrey Syaylev’s Architectural Explorations
Single-type panel buildings, an iconic symbol of urban landscapes, hold a special place in the cultural fabric of many cities. These seemingly gloomy blocks of five-story buildings, with their warm yellow kitchen lights, floral curtains, and balconies brimming with life, have become more than just structures. They are artifacts, a testament to the passage of time, and have become a source of inspiration for contemporary creative practices. Continue reading »
Minimalist Aquatic Photos by Mária Švarbová
Swimmers are a recurring theme in Slovakian photographer Mária Švarbová’s work (previously featured here and here), always captured in her distinctive, captivating style. Continue reading »
Soviet Spirit in Naive Illustrations of Angela Jerikh
Angela Jerikh from Donetsk, Ukraine, keeps painting the Soviet past with an ordinary man in the center of events. The one who has his simple desires, wants to love and to be loved, to drink with friends and enjoy other worldly pleasures apart from building global socialism. Continue reading »
Designer Creates a Unique Table Lighting Based on Brutalist Soviet Architecture and Other Things
According to Nikita Antokhin: “What were we thinking when we created this thing? Naturally, about our common past. The Soviet project addressed itself to humanity, not to man. The country explored space (and succeeded), but never learned how to build humane housing and how to build cities for people.” Continue reading »
Sad and Happy Moments on the Photos of Boris Register
Boris register is a photographer who didn’t do staged photos, so all of his images were caught in a moment and therefore wonderful. Even those which cause the feeling of discomfort. Continue reading »
Here Are Soviet Cartoon Characters This Russian Artist Redrew In His Style
Most of us probably feel a strong wave of nostalgia when we see something we used to watch as kids. The old cartoons that we re-watched a million times. Movies that we knew by heart and recreated with our friends in our backyards. Cartoons helped shape who we were and are today. They are a place of comfort and fond childhood memories. Continue reading »
Bizarre & Creative Soviet Anti-Alcohol Posters, 1930-1988
“Little by little, and you end up with a hooligan. Tolerance of drinking is dangerous. There is but a step from drinking to crime.” 1986.
Soviet communist officials firmly believed that heavy drinking and alcohol abuse were historical products of bourgeois-capitalist institutions and as such should ultimately disappear in a ”classless” and “conflict-free” socialist society. However, the alcohol issue was never very high on the government agenda. Continue reading »
Cute Illustrations With the Soviet Mood From Anna Desnitskaya
Illustrations of Anna Desnitskaya are all about domestic traditions, mode of life of Soviet people. We’re pretty sure that many people aged 35+ will recognize themselves on these pictures. Continue reading »
Impressive Examples of Soviet Brutalism in Architecture
Brutalism – an architectural style of the XX century that separated from modernism. Architects who work in this style are soft on brutal forms and getting much concrete. Continue reading »
The Unintentionally Homoerotic Chinese-Soviet Communist Propaganda Posters, 1950-1960
“Long Live the Friendship between the Peoples and Armies of China and Soviet Union”.
In October 1949, the Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong claimed victory and formed the People’s Republic of China. Socialist regimes now held power across one-fifth of the globe, ruling a combined population of almost 800 million people. Maintaining a friendly and productive relationship between Moscow and Beijing was seen as crucial for the survival and advancement of socialism. Continue reading »
Fantastic Photos Show What An Abandoned Soviet Submarine Looks Like From Inside
A passage between compartments
According to an explorers duo: “We are two. Him and Her. A man and a woman, husband and wife. We are open and adventurous. We are not athletes and far from the best photographers. We are searching, we are learning, we are developing, we travel, we look for adventures. And here they are – abandoned, decayed, derelict, lost and forgotten places, urban exploration, city suburbs… call it as you want .. but! As soon as you start exploring, you realize that there is a whole world of abandoned places. Continue reading »
Old Soviet Ships Transformed Into Yachts for Millionaires
Some modern super-yachts used to look differently and perform basically military missions. They served interests of their native country and its people. Many Soviet yachts became the property of foreign buyers in the 1990s who bought them quite cheaply. Continue reading »
Photographer Travels Across Russia and Captures Forgotten Artefacts Of The Post-Soviet Era
Photographer Lana Sator travels across Russia in search of abandoned places. Her Instagram dedicated to industrial tourism and Soviet architecture have already attracted an impressive audience. Continue reading »
From Amazing To Downright Scary, These 69 Design Decisions In Soviet Apartment Buildings In Lithuania Are Far From Boring
Anyone who’s ever visited a post-soviet country would’ve probably noticed some dull and depressing Eastern Bloc apartment buildings. Designed solely for one purpose—to put a roof over the heads of as many residents as possible, as quickly as possible—these buildings are definitely not the greatest example of charming architecture. Continue reading »
French Photographer Jason Guilbeau Outsmarted Lockdown To Find The Former USSR’s Strangest Street Relics
French photographer Jason Guilbeau has used Google Street View to virtually navigate Russia and the former USSR, searching for examples of a forgotten Soviet empire. Continue reading »
20 Soviet Health Propaganda Posters
The USSR really cared about its citizens – well at least about their health – because if they were not strong and healthy, they wouldn’t be productive members of the proletariat! Continue reading »
Mark O’Neill Captures Fantastic Images Of Ghastly Soviet Brutalist Monuments Scattered Around Post-Yugoslavian Balkan States
According to a photographer Mark O’Neill: “Following a dark journey of discovery through the former lands of Yugoslavia, Spomeniki presents a visionary series of monuments with unique shape, form, and texture. Continue reading »
The Lost Golden Age: Soviet Russia, As Seen By Photographer Vladimir Sokolaev
What’s the opposite of nostalgia? Remorse, maybe? Well, that is what Vladimir Solovev had captured; not so bright side of the Soviet era. Well-known documentary photographer in the 80-ties, Solovev was part of the famous creative group “Triva”. Continue reading »
Most Beautiful Remaining Street Mosaics From The Soviet Union
Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, much of the vast empire’s public art—or propaganda—has perished as well. Socialist Realism was the dominant style of the day—that is, art that bolstered the socialist message by glorifying the proletariat and celebrating civic triumphs. Continue reading »
Macedonian Artist Combined Soviet Era Posters With Popular Comic Superheroes
A Macedonian designer whose name is Zoki Cardula has conducted an art experiment and combined Soviet posters and images of popular comic books. The result is rather interesting. For example, Hulk has become an ardent opponent of alcohol while captain America is honoring the instructions of Vladimir Lenin. So let’s check out how comic book heroes would look like if they lived in the USSR. Continue reading »
That’s Why We Wanted To Build Communism – To Open Bottles After A Hard Day’s Work
The worker’s hammer and farmer’s sickle, was the traditional symbol of the Soviet Union (and the countries that claimed it in the years afterwards). Here it’s a really cool bottle opener.
Worker’s from walks of life chare the common bond of cracking open a cold one after a long day at work. And this novel opener makes short work of any pry-off cap. Continue reading »
