‘Ukrainian Modernism’ Photo Book Documents The Remains of Soviet-Era Architecture
Dmytro Soloviovs has travelled through Ukraine’s war-torn cities to capture the country’s rich architectural heritage amidst geopolitical instability.
Ukrainian architectural photographer Dmytro Soloviovs has spent years travelling through his country, on a mission to document its remaining Soviet-era buildings and preserve the nation’s modernist heritage in the face of war. In partnership with FUEL Publishing, the artist has put together a 240-page book called Ukrainian Modernism. Through a photographic journey, Soloviovs chronicles Ukraine’s varied Modernist history from avant-garde constructivism to late Soviet Brutalism.
“I travelled from the war-torn eastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy to the Carpathian mountains in the west to document these structures, including masterpieces like the Kyiv Crematorium and Saliut Hotel, alongside previously undocumented gems such as the Uzhhorod Airport Terminal and the Novoarkhanhelsk Police Station,” the photographer said in his Instagram announcement.
Many of the architectural sites are in disrepair, not only due to neglect but also due to the ongoing geopolitical warfare with Russia. Soloviovs also says the buildings remain largely unrecognised because of the cultural stigma associated with the Soviet era. “With this book, I want to change that,” he continued — “To shine a light on this lesser-known yet extraordinarily rich heritage of Ukraine and to establish modernism as an integral part of Ukrainian identity.”
According to FUEL, the book comes with three architectural postcards and 10% of each order goes to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
Set for release in late April, Ukrainian Modernism is available for pre-order across major platforms like Amazon and Waterstones, and local bookstores globally.
