Our cities hold layers of history in their walls, squares, and buildings—but these layers are disappearing. The Monumental Art Map was created from a simple, urgent need: to preserve. Objects from our recent past vanish with startling speed. Almost every week brings news of another dismantled stained-glass window, a destroyed mosaic, or a demolished bas-relief. We felt it was important to show a different historical and artistic landscape of the country, to make visible what has long remained invisible.
The original idea for this digital map belongs to Maxim Kozlov. Today, the project is based on the research, photos, and texts of Ekaterina Ruskevich and has been brought to life through the collaborative effort of a dedicated team. The application was developed by Aliaksandr Kudzin, with invaluable help from Vadim Kudrevich and Nikita Edush in providing crucial materials.
The map now features about 900 objects. While it documents monumental paintings, its scope has expanded to include fascinating examples of Soviet industrial design, such as neon signs. It also serves as a digital memorial, featuring old Soviet photographs of interiors and artworks that have been lost entirely. We try to give an idea of what the country might have looked like, drawing attention to objects that are nearby but are usually overlooked.
An essential part of this work is attribution. For us, it is also the revival of artists’ names—ensuring the creators behind these works are not forgotten. This project is a partnership with the BACU Association, and we look forward to working together to ensure these fragile pieces of our cultural landscape are saved, seen, and remembered.