Telling stories through mosaics and murals is a tradition that goes back to antique times.
Murals often depicted hardworking men and women in heroic proportions.
Those on government buildings, schools etc.
glorify Soviet workers, scientists, soldiers, miners, steelworkers, milkmaids, sports persons and cosmonauts.
A Soviet-era mosaic somewhere in Ukraine.
This was when most of the art that now appears across the Eastern Bloc were made.
Mosaic art was funded generously.
All new public buildings had 5% of the budget earmarked for artistic elements.
If the project was a prestigious building, these would be designed by local artists.
Everything that the Soviets did in those days were gargantuan in scale.
There are some murals that are eight storeys tall.
Such photographic endeavors have resulted in several projects and books.
A Soviet-era mural in Minsk, Belarus.
Photo credit:Terry Feuerborn/Flickr
A large soviet era mural in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia.
Photo credit: Yevgen Nikiforov
Photo credit: Yevgen Nikiforov
A mosaic depicting a cosmonaut in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Photo credit: Dennis Keen
A relief sculpture and mosaic in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Photo credit: Dennis Keen
The 1965 Enlik-Kebek mosaic on the outside of the Hotel Almaty in Kazakhstan.
Photo credit: Dennis Keen
A mosaic on Almaty Wedding Palace.
Photo credit: Dennis Keen
A Soviet mosaic in Karaghandy, Kazakhstan.
Photo credit:The Guardian
A concert hall in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Photo credit:The Guardian
A Soviet mural in the centre of Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
Photo credit:The Guardian
A mosaic on a residential community in Kiev, Ukraine.
Photo credit:Soviet Mosaics in Ukraine
A mosaic in Angarsk city, Russia.
Photo credit:RBTH.com
A huge mural on a derelict building in Zestap’oni, Georgia.
