Soviet Metro Stations

Name: Soviet Metro Stations
Brand: Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd
SKU: 9780995745568
Price: 60.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

By FUEL and Christopher Herwig

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4.57

( 123 ratings, 19 reviews)

Summary

Soviet Metro Stations presents a breathtaking photographic journey through the metro systems of the former Soviet Union. Capturing stations from Moscow to Tashkent, Christopher Herwig reveals a fusion of sculptural art, architecture, and political ideology. These metros are not mere transport hubs but grand showcases combining Byzantine, baroque, Constructivist, and medieval influences. They embody the Soviet ideal of 'communal luxury' through opulent materials like marble and chandeliers, alongside brutalist and minimalist designs. The extraordinary images include details such as neon, mosaics, and relief sculptures, offering a vivid glimpse into Soviet culture and history. Introduced by Owen Hatherley, the book is a unique exploration of these underground utopias.
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Format: Hardback

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Soviet Metro Stations

$60⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will appeal to enthusiasts of architecture, Soviet history, and photography. It suits readers fascinated by cultural heritage and urban exploration, as well as those interested in the intersection of art and political history within public spaces.

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.

Description

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 to build an unforgettably vivid map of the Soviet Metro.

The photographs are introduced by leading architecture, politics and culture author and journalist Owen Hatherley.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Herwig's compelling documentation of a vast architectural legacy spanning from Kyivska to Tashkent. The book is noted for its stunning and hyper-composed photographs that display the varied personalities and grandeur of each station, from lavish opulence to austere futurism. Reviewers highlight how this collection acts as both an artistic triumph and a historical peek behind the Iron Curtain, with "Calvert Journal" calling it a celebration of metro architecture, and "ArchDaily" emphasising the diversity of styles documented. "LA Weekly" commends the dramatic scale and energy conveyed by the images.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780995745568

Publisher: FUEL Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 September 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: FUEL Publishing

Contributors:

Edited by Damon Murray
Edited by Stephen Sorrell
Introduction by Owen Hatherley
Edited by Damon Murray
Edited by Stephen Sorrell

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 200.0mm

Height: 160.0mm

Weight: 770g

Pages: 240

Collections

Arts & Culture Christopher Herwig FUEL Non-Fiction

About the Author

Christopher Herwig is a Canadian born photographer and videographer. Currently based in Jordan, his previous homes have included Liberia and Kazakhstan. Owen Hatherley is a British writer and journalist. He is the author of Landscapes of Communism, a history of communism in Europe told through the built environments of former socialist states.