A Sketch of a Mosaic Panel for Decorating the Exterior of a House on the Brest Litovsk Highway in Kyiv 1968

Valerii Lamakh created this sketch for a mosaic panel in Kyiv, filled with potent symbols of Soviet progress and human struggle. Note the figures marching forward, one holding a newspaper titled 'Iskra' – 'The Spark' – a nod to the revolutionary newspaper founded by Lenin. The raised fist of another figure echoes ancient images of triumph and resistance, seen in classical sculptures and revolutionary art across cultures, embodying the will to overcome oppression. Contrast this with the chained figure, a symbol of past bondage, and the industrial gear at the base, representing the relentless march of progress. The mother and child is a motif as old as time. It's visual language taps into primal emotions of nurturing and protection, resonating with a collective memory of familial love and security. Yet, it also speaks to the future, the promise of a new generation born into a socialist utopia. This powerful juxtaposition engages us on a subconscious level, a dialectic between past struggles and future aspirations.