Americans who were watching television on Wednesday morning witnessed the startling spectacle of an English-speaking President, viewers have confirmed. All of the major cable news networks interrupted their regularly scheduled programs to cover the phenomenon, as a man who was identified as “President” spoke in complete, grammatically correct English sentences with no visible sign of…
Among the plethora of Instagram accounts dedicated to brutalist architecture, @mcmxxxv is one of the most popular. The account focuses exclusively on Soviet architecture between 1930 and 1950, and features book and brochure illustration, as well as detailed and panoramic shots of buildings and sculptures. These detailed shots are especially interesting and rare: from the vine-adorned…
Explore a lesser-known St Petersburg with this Instagram account dedicated to the city’s hidden delights. The Instagram account lets the viewer enjoy the more undiscovered vantages of St Petersburg — street corners and well yards, spaces not yet invaded by the city’s stampede of tourists. The account takes its name from a Russian word that means ‘non-festive’ or ‘non-ceremonial’ @neparadny, and that’s…
Enter the pastel-coloured and symmetrical world of communist-era swimming pools, as photographed by Slovakian photographer, Maria Svarbova. The photos were shot in Slovakia’s old communist-era swimming pools, and could be seen both as a praise and a critique of the regime. Svarbova says she also uses image editing software to make the people in the…
FLUENTRUSSIA is the fastest-growing language school in Russia – and we want you to grow with us. We offer unique avenues for growth and development unlike anything offered by other language schools. In our supportive environment, high-performing English teachers and administrators are able to adopt leadership positions within their departments and take their careers to…
Look at the views of Moscow that are not normally deemed worth photographing. While many of the popular Instagram accounts devoted to brutalist aesthetics are all about perfectly smooth concrete and geometric lines, @uglymoscow celebrates the city’s visual chaos and peeks into the ugly corners of the city’s suburbs and sleeping districts. Whether it’s a building…
Soviet logos is a project by Lithuanian designer Rokas Sutkaitis, who finds, carefully redraws and explains logos and trademarks hailing from behind the Iron curtain. The Instagram, which now has 10.7K followers, is a minimal collection of logos for various Soviet brands from all over the USSR, from confectionary to refrigerator exhibitions. It includes a…
Moscow State University’s botanical garden, called Aptekarskiy Ogorod (which means “apothecary garden” in Russian) runs an Instagram account with the most followers among botanical gardens in the world. Founded in 1706 by Peter the Great, it is also the oldest botanical garden in Russia, and was initially meant to grow medicinal plants. Since the 19th…
Sasha Ardabiev is a Moscow-based blogger whose Instagram account is dedicated to fashion looks under 3000 roubles (about $50). They are sourced exclusively from a French bargain supermarket chain Auchan. Ardabiev on his account @cheap_sasha creates fashion photo shoots mixing menswear and womenswear: from a minimalist Steve Jobs turtleneck to a trendy bucket hat and…
Polish artist Gosia Herba works as an illustrator and writes children’s books and graphic novels. For those who can’t get enough of her inimitable style, Herba’s Instagram account gives a sneak peek into her current works in progress, as well as offering regular trips into her back catalogue. Follow Herba for a daily dose of cuteness, featuring cartoon animals and weird cubist…