With any country that was in the Soviet Union, you’ll find many Soviet mosaics that are beautiful – and also full of Soviet ideology and propaganda illustrating the superiority of the Soviet Union, giving a sense of unity within and among the different countries within the union.
In this blog post, you’ll find some admirable Soviet mosaics to discover around Bishkek. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious while walking around the city.
There are Google map links and separate coordinates that you can copy and paste for other map navigation apps.
Happy hunting to you, Soviet art and general art lovers!
Space
Easily missed, this weary 1984 mosaic of a cosmonaut ascending towards the sun has definitely seen better days. It has been defiled by owners of the current building (which used to be the House of Science and Technology) by having an air conditioning unit installed. It is now partially covered by up overgrown vegetation. Despite this, it is still an appreciative mosaic if you can find it.
42.874767, 74.623243
Lenin is with us
Created in 1978 by Lydia Ilina using smalt tiles (a special kind of cobalt-based glass), this colourful yet muted three-dimensional mosaic shows Lenin in his familiar pose, addressing different Soviet people such as soldiers, students, scholars, scientists, the common worker, and the supportive and important mother depicted in a Madonna-like fashion.
42.873666, 74.574427
Khottabych Flying Carpet
Taken from a Soviet fantasy film called Old Khottabych made in 1956, this is one of my favourite mosaic pieces due to its still vibrant colours and detail that makes it easy to admire – not to mention the fantasy of flying on a magical carpet!
You can find more mosaics around the fifth microdistrict area, particularly at the southern ends of several apartment blocks.
42.832905, 74.628275
Labour
Using a mixture of pebbles and ceramics, this mosaic is located just off Chuy Avenue and can be easily reached but not always easily seen.
The mosaic depicts the hard labour from the ordinary industrial worker, a woman with a food produced by toil, and a white-coat intellectual standing together in unity, working for the benefit and common goals of the Soviet Union.
You can’t really get closed to this mosaic due to a locked and controlled apartment gate but if you’re lucky when the gate is open, you’ll might be able to get inside for a closer look.
42.876965, 74.591515
'Flourish, Kyrgyzstan'
From artist Satar Aitiev created in 1978, this slowly fading and decaying apartment block-sized mosaic is propaganda in nature (as were most Soviet-era mosaics) as it tries to instill a sense of unity and pride among Kyrgyz people during the Soviet Union era.
The central figure is a woman who is dressed in traditional Kyrgyz clothing, standing forward and openly with her fellow Kyrgyz people.
As it is near the VEFA shopping centre, many times have businesses tried to put billboards on top of the mosaic – but they have all been denied permission.
42.858280, 74.610201
Festive procession of the people
Ordered to incorporate Soviet ideology of unity and collective achievement, artists Alexey Kamensky and Albert Bekdzhanyan designed this mosaic to feature people in Kyrgyz attire to symbolise and celebrate the united achievements across various fields such as agriculture, culture, and science.
Head to the opposite side of the road (via subway) to see the artists’ continued work.
42.829414, 74.607763
Ala-Too Movie Theatre mosaics
Ala-Too Movie Theatre is recognised as one of the important cultural monuments in Kyrgyzstan, along with being the oldest cinema in Bishkek that’s still in use today.
The original decoration of Kyrgyz horses were replaced in 1963 by panels illustrating the achievements of the Soviet Union through symbols, such as a dove representing peace, cosmonaut embodying scientific success, and books exemplifying education.
42.876108, 74.607371
Path of Enlightenment
One of the more otherworldly pieces of art by Kygryz painter Satar Aitiev, this vibrant mosaic and dreamy artwork features men and women on the path of enlightenment bought on by a central ghostly figure in the sky.
Created in 1978, this massive mosaic is located on the facade of one of Kyrgyz National University’s campus buildings so it’s hard not to miss and appreciate! There are also smaller yet still impressive mosaics on the building as well.
42.879707, 74.583072
Our Work to you, Motherland
This piece is among the most striking mosaics found in former Soviet countries. It is found on the front entrance of a textile factory, adding colour to an otherwise grey and dull concrete building.
As its title suggests, artist Theodore Herzen’s mosaic piece is dedicated to the hard workers of the Soviet Union. It is bold and commanding in its feminine beauty, ideology, and size. Don’t miss seeing it.
42.883274, 74.594809
These are some of the impressive mosaic artworks that can be found in and around Bishkek. There is definitely more that I have not seen so get out to Bishkek and find them.
Are there other amazing mosaics that travellers should check out while in the city?
Comment below to let other travellers and myself know!
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