Beautiful? That is a very strange way of speaking of Soviet Art. You normally associate words like "utilitarian" or perhaps "propagandist" about the imagery of the Soviet Union; it is after all designed to unite and uplift the masses, and get the manufacture of tractor parts and beetroot production in line with the latest five year plan. Or something.
The fact is it is far more beautiful than that.
Yes, it serves a purpose. It shows the superiority of the Soviet Union over the rest of the world; it shows the superiority of the men, women and even dogs of that nation. These are heroic figures, in heroic poses, who are somehow still portrayed as doing their all for the Motherland and not themselves. But the colours are vivid and lush, the retro space technology something to drool over, and the art itself is far less bombastic than other forms of Soviet propaganda with its giant Lenins and Peasants of Progress.
There is a tremendous feeling of exploration, and of pushing back frontiers. There is the blackness of space, and these people and vehicles bringing life, light and colour to it. I think it is wonderful.
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| A general piece of Soviet Space Programme promotion |
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| The heroic, and tragic, Laika aboard Sputnik 2 |
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| The all time hero Gargarin of Vostok 1 commemorated |
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| Still an all time heroine in Russia, Valentina Tereshkova |
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| Soyuz 10 mission badge |
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| My all time favourite: Soyuz 18 mission badge |
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| The late 70s - Soyuz 26 / Salyut 6 stamp |
Mention must also be made of the great Soviet cosmonaut artist Alexei Leonov. He made the first walk in space aboard Voskhod 2, showing considerable presence of mind to save his life in the process. He made many paintings of space subjects, including the one below, "Near the Moon", which inspired the famous shot from 2001 A Space Odyssey, although Kubrick made it vertical for aesthetic reasons.
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| Cosmonaut Leonov's "Near the Moon", inspiration for 2001 |
Copyright Bloody Mulberry 23/10/2013
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