{"title":"Arseniy Kotov","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArseniy Kotov\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a vivid exploration of Soviet life through his evocative works such as \u003cem\u003eSoviet Cities\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSoviet Seasons\u003c\/em\u003e. His writing captures the unique atmosphere of the Soviet era, blending historical detail with rich cultural insight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a thoughtful journey into the arts and culture of a transformative period, where urban landscapes and seasonal rhythms reveal the complexities and beauty of everyday existence in Soviet society.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"soviet-cities-by-arseniy-kotov-9781916218413","title":"Soviet Cities","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, Russian cities have visibly changed. The architectural heritage of the Soviet period has not been fully acknowledged. As a result, many unique modernist buildings have been destroyed or changed beyond recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRussian photographer Arseniy Kotov intends to document these buildings and their surroundings before they are lost forever. He likes to take pictures in winter, during the 'blue hour', which occurs immediately after sunset or just before sunrise. At this time, the warm yellow colours inside apartment block windows contrast with the twilight gloom outside. To Kotov, this atmosphere reflects the Soviet period of his imagination. His impression of this time is unashamedly idealistic: he envisages a great civilisation, built on a fair society, which hopes to explore nature and conquer space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the desert steppes of Kazakhstan to the grim monolithic high-rise dormitory blocks of inner city Volgograd, Kotov captures the essence of the post-Soviet world. \u003cem\u003eThe USSR no longer exists and in these photographs we can see what remains - the most outstanding buildings and constructions, where Soviet people lived and how Soviet cities once looked: no decoration, no bright colours and no luxury, only bare concrete and powerful forms.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47428126638316,"sku":"9781916218413","price":55.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781916218413.jpg?v=1774767216"},{"product_id":"soviet-seasons-by-arseniy-kotov-9781916218451","title":"Soviet Seasons","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eSoviet Seasons\u003c\/i\u003e, Kotov's photographs reveal unfamiliar aspects of the post-Soviet terrain. From snow-blanketed Siberia in winter to the mountains of the Caucasus in summer, these images show how a once powerful, utopian landscape has been affected by the weight of nature itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis uniquely broad perspective could only be achieved by a photographer such as Kotov. Singularly dedicated to exploring every corner of his country, Kotov often hitch-hikes across vast distances. On these journeys, he chronicles not only the architectural achievements of the Soviet empire but also its overlooked or simply undocumented constructions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArseniy Kotov: 'In this book I reveal the beauty and diversity of this vast region, showing both cities and nature at different times of the year. I have travelled widely across Russia and its neighbouring countries, where I captured the landscape of post-Soviet cities and witnessed the seasonal changes.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47461425840364,"sku":"9781916218451","price":60.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781916218451-soviet-seasons.jpg?v=1774967653"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/arseniy-kotov.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}