100 x 100 cm
Pioneer
A pioneer is the ideological symbol of the Communist youth. Conveying hope, he had to wear a uniform. It was compulsory for children to first become “little Octobrists” and to wear a pin with an image of young Lenin, and afterward they were accepted into pioneers and wore a red neck-tie which had to be worn every day while field caps adorned their heads on days when celebrations were held. Thereafter the best became members of the Komsomol (as always, the uniform was a white top, dark bottom and of course a pin with Lenin’s image).
Pilot
Draft of a poster commemorating the glory of the Soviet air forces, a powerful symbol of the system.
Kremlin & Red Star, black and white sketch
Always a joy to one’s eyes, the Kremlin’s panorama, here devoid of any gilt. Safeguarding its main and eternal symbol, the Red Star.
Cupolas of Church of St. Gregory Neokesariysky
In this 17th century church situated on Polyanka Street, in 1672 Peter The Great was baptized. Pyramid-shaped bell tower and recurring elements of ceramic tile with multi-coloured pattern “peacock’s eye” are the foundation of the reflection of architectural prestige and Czarist power.
Bolchoï in negative style
A photograph in negative style, of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, which hosts on its stage the best Russian artists. In the front of the neoclassical building Apollo’s quadriga is presented in bronze.
Monument to the conquerers of space
An impressive obelisk depicting a rocket situated on top of the obelisk. It is placed on a huge podium (the Memorial Museum of Astronautics is housed inside) with images of scientists and workers which participated in the space program and Laika, the first ever dog to travel into space. Measuring 107 meters in height and made from titanium, this monument was erected in 1964 in honor of the Soviet astronauts.The monument is situated on VDNKh (which today is the All-Russia exhibition center), it can be seen in the Pet Shop Boys 1993 video “Go West”.
The Kremlin’s Red Star
The bright five branches ruby red stars, symbol of the Soviet power, adorn the towers of the Kremlin since 1935. They have replaced the Two-Headed Eagle, symbol of the Tsarist power.
Istra, the New Jerusalem in Pop Art Style
The abbey church of the Resurrection, built in the 17th century, is a very old patriarchal residence, situated on the Istra river, west of Moscow. Patriarch Nikon had it built according to the plans of the Holy Sepulcre of Jerusalem.
Triumphant Saint Basil (pink)
Triumphant Saint Basil (bleue)
Saint Basil’s Cathedral is a permanent show of refinement, colors and funny geometric shapes, which, assembled this way, resemble an orchestra ringing to the sound of trumpets.
The Kremlin Walls and its crenels
The Kremlin Walls stamped “Moskva”
The long impassable walls of red brick fortress enclosing the Kremlin, are as for Muscovites and visitors the iconic symbol of the history and the power of Moscow. This jewel of Russian architecture, located in the heart of the city, easily lends itself to photomontage, through its regular graphics towers and battlements.
Multicolored onion domes of the Church of Saint Nikolas of the Weavers (red)
Multicolored onion domes of the Church of Saint Nikolas of the Weavers (black)
This lovely little church architectural style Naryshkin, built by the corporation of weavers in the 17th century, is one of the few churches remained open worship during the Soviet era. The very graphic and pyramidal forms of multicolored rounded domes, called “Kakochniki”, remind the caps of Traditional Russian women. This church is located close to the house museum Leo Tolstoy.
The domes of the Church of the Nativity (blue)
The domes of the Church of the Nativity (red)
Located close to Pushkin Square and Tverskaya Street, this church of the 17th century, although stripped of all ornamentation, shows steeples whose very soft white and blue colors bring a lot of peace and serenity to the very central street where it is located. This church was once located on the pilgrimage route of the Tsar that led to the Trinity Laura St. Sergius Sergey Passad.
The domes of the Church of the Nativity (green)
The domes of the Church of the Nativity (Yellow)
Located close to Pushkin Square and Tverskaya Street, this church of the 17th century, although stripped of all ornamentation, shows steeples whose very soft white and blue colors bring a lot of peace and serenity to the very central street where it is located. This church was once located on the pilgrimage route of the Tsar that led to the Trinity Laura St. Sergius Sergey Passad.
Russian folklore and music
The Russian dancers round
Carved wooden figurines, purchased at Souvenirs Market Izmaelovo were photographed, cut and assembled to form a folk round of dancers wearing traditional costumes.
Russian Popular Dance, Kazatchok
Russian popular dance, very happy, where women dressed traditional lead dance to rhythmic music that highlights the proud character of Cossacks.
The Russian Men Quadrille
This famous dance, which aimed to highlight the dancers’ costumes is here illustrated by wooden carved figurines, purchased at Souvenirs Market Izmaelovo. These are highly decorative traditional subjects nowadays, clinging to russian Christmas trees.
Kotielnitcheskaya High Stalin House (green)
Kotielnitcheskaya High Stalin House (bleue)
This “High House” consisting of homes located in the extension of the Kremlin Katielnitchieskaya bank, is part of the “Seven Sisters” built by Stalin after the war. This building used to house many luxury apartments with terraces reserved for the Communist “Nomenklatura” and many communal apartments. This building also houses the cinema or Theater Illusion, where can be seen among others french films during the Film Festival.
Saint Basil’s domes, black circle
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, located on Red Square between the GUM and the Mausoleum of Lenin, provides a set of colorful contrasts, with its domes with very bright, cheerful and vibrant colors, inexhaustible source of graphic inspiration.
The golden domes of Cathedral Saint Saviour
The gilded gold leaf rounded domes, onion-shaped, are characteristic of the architecture of russian churches. Their shape and their color absolutely regular, recall the flames that candles burn and are suitable for perfect geometric decorative montages.
Woman dressed with golden domes of Christ the Savior
On this pattern, the dome-shaped bulbs of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior , were photographed then selected and cut to form matryoshkas dresses.
Multicolored Matryoshkas
Single color small matryoshkas which, when combined, offer an aesthetic colorful set, featuring a sublimation of this popular toy object.
Matryoshka wearing Saint Basil’s blue domes dress
Matryoshka wearing Saint Basil’s green domes dress
On this pattern, the dome-shaped bulbs of St. Basil’s Cathedral, were photographed then selected and cut to form matryoshkas dresses and caps.
Matriochka in Rose
Russian Dolls, usually carved from birch wood, are decorative toys representing generally popular topics. Fertility symbol, they reproduce themselves indefinitely, leaving the surprise whenever the Next. Presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the matryoshka won The Silver Medal Toy.
Malevitch Matryoshkas
Inspired by the colored tunics figures of Casimir Malevich, these iconic images, very decorative, with subtle variations of colors, mid geometric, mid biologic, are representative of the work of the creator of Suprematism 30s.
Matryoshkas’ Round (bleue)
Matryoshkas’ Round (Yellow)
The matryoshkas, traditional russian dolls, both toys and ornaments painted on carved wood, are signs of elegance and virtuosity.
Carved wooden fence of Leo Tolstoy’s House
Count Leo Tolstoy used to live between Yasnaya Polyana, near Tula, on summer time and Moscow during the winter. The house of the writer, converted into a charming museum in 1920, is surrounded by a beautiful carved wooden fence, very colorful, which is the origin of this pattern on this photo.
Red Square with Horses
This photo is a representation of a traditional Russian motif, typical of the Arkhangelsk region, north of Russia. In this region, rich in handicrafts, artists paint these patterns by hand on wooden boxes.
The Kremlin kaleidoscope
Nod to the double-headed eagle, the symbol of Tsarist power, which somewhat disoriented, does not know whether to take his place at the top of the towers of the Kremlin or leave in place the red stars, symbol of communist power. All are powerful symbols of the mighty Russia.
