Spomenik: The End of History, by Jan Kempenaers
Photo essay of post-war Yugoslavian monuments and architecture by Belgian artist Jan Kempenaers, from the Crown Gallery site. “Spomenik” means monument, and all of these structures were meant to commemorate WWII losses and point to progress and a generally utopian future. Thanks to the turmoil of subsequent wars in the former Yugoslavia, these brutalist monuments have fallen into disrepair. More information on Kempenaers here.
Tags: architecture, art, belgium, brutalist, Crown Gallery, Jan Kempenaers, monument, photograher, photography, public art, public sculpture, sci fi, Soviet, utopian architecture, war, Yugoslavia
November 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I love this kind of theme in photographs.
It reminds me of stumbling upon this book a few years ago: http://www.polarinertia.com/jan07/bus01.htm
November 14th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Jonathan,
Yes, I’ve seen those soviet bus shelters! Fantastic. Have you seen the amazing photos of Soviet architecture by Frederic Chaubin? http://pingmag.jp/2006/09/13/frederic-chaubin-soviet-sf-style/
November 15th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Thanks for the photos. I had not seen most of these architectural pieces before and I find the the fact that they have now been bypassed by a country and a political system that effectively no longer exists, even more fascinating. I wonder what monuments we will leave high and dry when our system crumbles?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Thanks for the article, LB!
It was a great article. It’s making me more curious about Russia and the old USSR states/nations that ever.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:22 am
[...] – und die drohen, in Vergessenheit zu geraten (wie jüngst die fantastisch-futuristischen „Spomenik“-Monumente des Nachkriegs- [...]