Sketch of the Mosaic Panel 'Scheme of World Structure' for the Exterior Design of the Ternopil Cotton Mill 1974

Valerii Lamakh created this sketch for a mosaic panel intended for the Ternopil Cotton Mill’s exterior design. The image presents a vision of progress and Soviet identity during the mid-20th century. We see a scientist, an archetypal figure of the era, holding a book filled with equations. The artist emphasizes the cultural value placed on intellectual labor. Note the visual tension: while scientific advancement is highlighted, this progress occurs within the setting of a cotton mill, representing the industrial labor force that fueled the Soviet economy. The scientist is portrayed in a manner that embodies socialist ideals, and the imagery constructs a narrative where science serves the state and its industrial ambitions. Lamakh’s sketch reflects the period’s aspirations for a society where intellectualism and industry worked in unison towards a utopian future, even as it leaves us to consider the human cost of such grand ambitions.