Beautiful Bus Stops

Christopher Herwig’s photos of Soviet bus stops have been receiving a lot of attention recently on websites and blogs.  Herwig is known for his photographs of war torn countries.  The bus stop series has a very different feeling.  Often set against bleak or barren landscapes, the bus stops offer a moment of relief — of beauty, visual interest, and at times of humor (I suspect not deliberately, but they’re fun none the less).

Christopher Herwig’s Soviet Bus Stops.

All images © Christopher Herwig via Beautiful/Decay

In large part, the fascination with Herwig’s photographs revolves around the way that they reflect the culture and geographic diversity united under the umbrella of the former Soviet Union. The Soviet Union comprised a vast expanse of territories and numerous nations, each with its own rich artistic history. While the Soviet government imposed certain uniformities, regional and national identities had remarkable staying power. But they are also a poignant reminder of the value of public art.  Adding a dimension of art, color, vitality, expression to the design of the most banal of objects or structures can have tremendous emotional impact upon how we experience our world.

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