From the author of Soviet Bus Stops, an underground trip through the Soviet Metro
"For us," said Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs, "there was something supernatural about the Metro." Visiting any of the dozen or so Metro networks built across the Soviet Union between the 1930s and 1980s, it is easy to see why. Rather than the straightforward systems of London, Paris or New York, these networks were used as a propaganda artwork-a fusion of sculpture, architecture and art that combined Byzantine, medieval, baroque and constructivist ideas and infused them with the notion that communism would mean a "communal luxury" for all. Today these astonishing spaces remain the closest realization of a Soviet utopia.
Following his bestselling quest for Soviet Bus Stops, Canadian photographer Christopher Herwig has completed a subterranean expedition photographing the stations of each Metro network of the former USSR. From extreme marble and chandelier opulence to brutal futuristic minimalist glory, Soviet Metro Stations documents this wealth of diverse architecture. Along the way Herwig captures the elements that make up this singular Soviet experience: neon, concrete, escalators, signage, mosaics and relief sculptures all combine to build a vivid map of the Soviet Metro.
Soviet Metro Stations includes an essay by the leading architectural and political writer Owen Hatherley, author of the acclaimed books Landscapes of Communism (2015), Trans-Europe Express (2018) and The Adventures of Owen Hatherley in the Post-Soviet Space.
-Lizzie Crook "Dezeen"
Stunning photographs of Soviet Metro Stations from across the former states of the USSR and Russia itself, many of which have never previously been documented For us, said Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs, 'there was something supernatural about the Metro'. Visiting any of the dozen or so Metro networks built across the Soviet Union between the 1930s and 1980s, it is easy to see why. Rather than the straightforward systems of London, Paris or New York, these networks were used as a propaganda artwork - a fusion of sculpture, architecture and art, combining Byzantine, medieval, baroque and Constructivist ideas and infusing them with the notion that Communism would mean a 'communal luxury' for all. Today these astonishing spaces remain the closest realisation of a Soviet utopia. Following his best-selling quest for Soviet Bus Stops, Christopher Herwig has completed a subterranean expedition - photographing the stations of each Metro network of the former USSR. From extreme marble and chandelier opulence to brutal futuristic minimalist glory, Soviet Metro Stations documents this wealth of diverse architecture. Along the way Herwig captures individual elements that make up this singular Soviet experience: neon, concrete, escalators, signage, mosaics and relief sculptures all combine build an unforgettably vivid map of the Soviet Metro. The photographs are introduced by leading architecture, politics and culture author and journalist Owen Hatherley.
От автора книги "Советские автобусные остановки".
"Для нас, - сказал советский лидер Никита Хрущев в своих мемуарах, - метрополитен был чем-то сверхъестественным". Посетив около десяток станций метро, построенных в Советском Союзе в период с 1930-х по 1980-е годы, легко понять, почему. Вместо простых систем метро в Лондоне, Париже или Нью-Йорке, советские станции метро использовались в качестве пропагандистских произведений искусства - это слияние архитектуры и искусства, которое сочетало в себе византийские, средневековые, барочные и конструктивистские стили, наполненные идеей коммунизма. Сегодня эти удивительные конструкции остаются ярчайшим воплощением советской утопии.
После своего бестселлера о советских автобусных остановках канадский фотограф Кристофер Хервиг завершил подземную экспедицию, сфотографировав каждую станцию метро бывшего СССР. От невероятной роскоши мрамора и люстр до брутального футуристического минимализма: советские станции метро наполнены богатством разнообразной архитектуры. Хервиг запечатлел кадры, образующие этот уникальный советский опыт: неон, бетон, эскалаторы, указатели, мозаики и рельефные скульптуры - все это объединяется, чтобы создать яркую карту советского метро.
Отзыв:
Советские станции метро включают сочинение ведущего архитектурного и политического писателя Оуэна Хазерли, автора знаменитых книг "Пейзажи коммунизма" (2015), Trans-Europe Express (2018) и "Приключения Оуэна Хазерли на постсоветском пространстве".
- Лиззи Крук "Dezeen"
Ot avtora knigi "Sovetskie avtobusnye ostanovki".
"Dlja nas, - skazal sovetskij lider Nikita Khruschev v svoikh memuarakh, - metropoliten byl chem-to sverkhestestvennym". Posetiv okolo desjatok stantsij metro, postroennykh v Sovetskom Sojuze v period s 1930-kh po 1980-e gody, legko ponjat, pochemu. Vmesto prostykh sistem metro v Londone, Parizhe ili Nju-Jorke, sovetskie stantsii metro ispolzovalis v kachestve propagandistskikh proizvedenij iskusstva - eto slijanie arkhitektury i iskusstva, kotoroe sochetalo v sebe vizantijskie, srednevekovye, barochnye i konstruktivistskie stili, napolnennye ideej kommunizma. Segodnja eti udivitelnye konstruktsii ostajutsja jarchajshim voploscheniem sovetskoj utopii.
Posle svoego bestsellera o sovetskikh avtobusnykh ostanovkakh kanadskij fotograf Kristofer Khervig zavershil podzemnuju ekspeditsiju, sfotografirovav kazhduju stantsiju metro byvshego SSSR. Ot neverojatnoj roskoshi mramora i ljustr do brutalnogo futuristicheskogo minimalizma: sovetskie stantsii metro napolneny bogatstvom raznoobraznoj arkhitektury. Khervig zapechatlel kadry, obrazujuschie etot unikalnyj sovetskij opyt: neon, beton, eskalatory, ukazateli, mozaiki i relefnye skulptury - vse eto obedinjaetsja, chtoby sozdat jarkuju kartu sovetskogo metro.
Otzyv:
Sovetskie stantsii metro vkljuchajut sochinenie veduschego arkhitekturnogo i politicheskogo pisatelja Ouena Khazerli, avtora znamenitykh knig "Pejzazhi kommunizma" (2015), Trans-Europe Express (2018) i "Prikljuchenija Ouena Khazerli na postsovetskom prostranstve".
- Lizzi Kruk "Dezeen"
