Telling stories through mosaics and murals is a tradition that goes back to antique times. During the Soviet era, murals were used extensively as a medium of propaganda, spreading ideas and slogans through brightly colored artwork on the walls of factories, schools, government buildings, and housing blocks all across the Soviet Union. 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. Mosaics on ordinary apartment blocks were often dedicated to the history of Communism and Vladimir Lenin, depicting people of every age and gender as the builders of Communism.

A Soviet-era mosaic somewhere in Ukraine. Photo credit: Yevgen Nikiforov