Blog
East vs West: A Comparison of Soviet & American Cold War Posters
As the dust of WWII settled, the uneasy peace between the Western superpowers and the USSR was faltering. Tensions escalated as both sides built ever bigger nuclear arsenals. But, artists weren’t confined to the sidelines. They were fighting an ideological war, using propaganda to win the hearts of their own people and to sway opinions beyond their borders.
The Buran: The Soviet Response to NASAs Space Shuttle
Not Lovin' It: The Rise and Fall of McDonald's Diplomacy
Soviet Propaganda Posters are Undervalued. Here's Why
Decoding the Most Common Symbols Found in Soviet Propaganda
The Ekranoplan - The Colossal Soviet-era Aquatic Plane that Never Was
Where to Buy Original Soviet Art
Intourist Travel Posters - How the USSR Used Propaganda to Drive Tourism
The Definitive History of the Soviet Propaganda Poster
Art Factory: The Rise of Soviet Safety Posters in the Workplace
The OG of Photoshop: The Fabrication of Photographs in Stalin’s Soviet Surveillance State
The Trans-Siberian Railroad - The Railroad that Changed the World and Started a War
9,198 kilometres of tracks connect Moscow to the Pacific port of Vladivostok. As the longest railroad in the world, the Trans-Siberian Railway is truly one of humanity’s most impressive engineering feats. But, this symbol of Soviet power has also had an outsized impact on the world at large. Its construction was the catalyst for a war between two superpowers, it transported millions of prisoners to the Gulags, and served as a lifeline during the Second World War.
A Top 10 Guide to Georgia’s Best Soviet & Modern Architecture
Exploring Budapest’s Dystopian Underground Water Reservoir
Z is for Sorrow: How a Letter Became the Symbol for Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s Vulnerability can be Shown with a Map
The Enduring Legacy of the Lada
Abandoned Kyrgyzstan: Aalam-Ordo, the Centre of the Universe
Final Frontier: The Road of a Million Bones
The Eagle has Landed: Hunting with the Last Eagle Hunters in Kyrgyzstan
What's in a Name? Comrade Kiev becomes Comrade Kyiv
Castles & Controversy: Inside Turkey's $200m Abandoned Town
The Land of Fire: The Do’s and Don'ts in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, the land of fire and authoritarianism. Azerbaijan literally translates to ‘protector of fire’, while the textbook definition of authoritarianism is its ‘president’, Ilham Aliyev. I spent three weeks in Azerbaijan, which was probably two weeks too many. Here is my list of places to visit...and avoid.
60 Years in the Making: The Domestication of the Siberian Silver Fox
Soviet Sanatoriums: The Crumbling Remains of Tskaltubo, Georgia
A Top 10 Guide to Armenia’s Best Brutalist & Modernist Buildings
Knocking on Heaven's Door: Armenia's Abandoned Orgov Telescope
Armenia’s Modernist Masterpiece: Lake Sevan Writers Retreat
Bulldozer Exhibition: The Degenerate Art of the USSR
Memory Palace: Inside the Abandoned Shymkent Palace of Culture
Samantha Smith: The 10 Year Old Girl Who Became an Icon for Peace
Soviet Status Symbols: The Unique Balconies of the USSR
In Conversation with a Soviet Propaganda Poster Artist: Vladimir Tverdokhlebov
Murder, Money and Michael J Fox: Ice Hockey in the Wild, Wild East
Ice Hockey was everything in the Soviet Union. The USSR national team dominated ice hockey on the international stage, winning nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament from the early 50s up until the fall of the Soviet Union. After the USSR collapsed, the money dried up.
Celebrating 60 Years of Humans in Space with a New Tour
Announcing Sustainable, Ethical, Design-led Tours to the Former USSR
Photo Essay: Inside Tashkent's Space-aged Subway Station
Behind the Propaganda Poster: The Story of International Women's Day
Fonts & Freedom: Using Typography to Chart the Course of the USSR
The Fraternal Kiss - Behind the Famous Photo
Creativity vs Communism: The Polish School of Propaganda, CYRK and Art Posters
Missing Murals: The Legacy of Soviet Mosaics
Must Read Books on Soviet Art, Design and Culture
Welcome to Bulunkul, Central Asia's Coldest Town
Soviet Logos: The Lost Logos of a Socialist Utopia
Logos are the badge of capitalism. They distinguish one brand from its competitor. In the Soviet Union, the state controlled all aspects of production. Logos weren’t necessary. Yet, Soviet designers created them by their thousands. Rokas Sutkaitis, explores their hidden history in his new book.
How We're Building a Purpose Led Business
We’ve Integrated with Klarna to Make Art More Accessible
Photo Essay: Turkmenistan's Shining Marble City, Ashgabat
How the CIA Stole a Sunken Soviet Submarine from the Sea Floor
Photo Essay: The Unworldly Photos of Industrial Waste Landscapes in Russia
Behind the Poster: The Young Pioneers of the USSR
A Conversation about Conservation: How to Store, Frame and Protect your Artwork
Behind the Propaganda Poster: Political Games at the Soviet Olympic Games
How We’re Building a Carbon Neutral Business
Photo Essay: An Empty and Endless Kazakhstan
Cyrk: The Posters that Take us Inside the Soviet Circus
In the 70s & 80s, the circus was used to covertly communicate Communist ideology to audiences. The most famous posters came from the Polish Poster School. Characterised by bright colours, striking typography and aesthetic playfulness, they were hugely influential in the later development of graphic design.