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Matthias-Haker — The Communist Spirit
Published: 2013-03-28 19:07:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 58999; Favourites: 3370; Downloads: 0
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Abandoned Communist Monument somewhere in Europe.©Matthias Haker 2013
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Comments: 456
The wide lens brings in such a vast view! I love the warmth in your photographs, with the shadows still being cooling with blues. It has a nice complementary effect to it. I also like how my eyes go directly to the logo in the center of the ceiling.
The only thing I would worry about is that the center of that floor is a little soft, and since it's at about the same distance as the party logo I feel like it should be just as sharp even if it's not the visual focal point.
I always enjoy your work and look forward to your next crop of photos!
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I'll start by saying that this is the monument on peak Buzludzha, the Balkan mountain range (a.k.a. Stara Planina) in Bulgaria. It is literally 30 minutes by car from where I was born and you can see it from afar. Not taking its meaning and history into account, the monument is quite magnificent in itself.
The last time I went there it was falling apart but I've never seen it from the inside. It looks sad considering what it used to be (i.e. in these photos: [link] and [link] ).
Speaking from the point of view of an insider to Bulgarian political affairs throughout the years since the fall of the Socialist regime, I must say that this photograph is a very vivid and symbolic representation of the current state of the country. It is very interesting how everything lies in ruins underneath the party's logo, which is the only thing that stays intact after all these years. In a way the photo represents the nature of the two kinds of people living in Bulgaria right now:
1. The logo could be compared to the elderly people, who spent the larger part of their lives under the Socialist regime and who still consider this past to be better that the life they have now in democratic Bulgaria. They are always reminiscing, saying that back then everything was plentiful, well made and generally better than now. While these people are still alive, Bulgaria will always live in the shadow of its past.
2. On the other hand, the ruins represent the resentment of the younger generations towards the Socialist regime. After the fall of this regime, everything that was even remotely related to it was left to rot, much like this monument itself, which has been steadily falling to ruins for the past 20 years.
For those who are aware of the Buzludzha monument, this shot captures a large amount of symbolism at the same time showing that nothing is eternal, no matter how strong its roots are and how deep they go. Otherwise, socio-political significance aside, from a strictly visual point of view, the photograph is very beautiful and professionally made. It shows a lot of detail in vivid and contrasting colors, which in a very strange and interesting way gives life to the otherwise depressing view.
My only remark is that perhaps the filters are a bit on the heavy side. Wonderful shot nonetheless!
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The fact that the logo of the Party is the only thing left from the past which is recognizable gives a special poignancy to this Urbex shot. Here, the hubris of human ideology is seen in the wider context of an enormous Universe with infinite time to wear down the premise of any world-conquering urge.
Interestingly, the colors of the logo are reflected in rust and graffiti in a way that would be hard to plan, but ends up having quite painterly qualities.
The circularity of the Amphitheater shape really ties the overall geometry of the piece and gives the logo an 'eye-in-the-sky', godlike quality...yet all 'It' sees is ruin!
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The way you described the picture is both beautiful and true.
History is full of ideologues and empires who think they can bring about the end of history and utopia. Too many of them think that their noble ideas will protect them from being burnt by the sun they fly towards. But nature reminds them of their mortality by crushing their hope and dreams, destroying their delusions of godhood.
But even when they find a way to beat nature, their own corruption will eat them until there's nothing left. And then the cycle repeats. The same ideas being reused under different words but most likely to share the same fate.
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NO. This is the Buzludzha monument in Bulgaria, it was built by the Bulgarian communist regime to commemorate the events in 1891 when the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area to form an organised socialist movement. It was opened in 1981. No longer maintained by the Bulgarian government, it has fallen into disuse. After 1989 and the fall of the communist party it was completely robbed of its possessions and the reason why only the picture on the ceiling is left is because it`s too high up to be reached and stolen. Sheesh you people don`t even understand what you`re talking about and you`re adding in something deep, and although quite beautiful and inspirational, you have no idea what you`re talking about.
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The comments weren't ever meant to be historically accurate, though I thank you for the excellent back-story behind the site. You have misinterpreted the purpose of this kind of critique, which is designed and intended to elicit what the viewer thinks about in response to seeing that a previous regime, obviously designing architectural space intended to celebrate its worldly power, can now many years later to be seen as a transient entity, nowhere near as powerful as it, and its participants, would have imagined at that historical moment. This is not a feature unique to the Communist movement, we are ALL mistaken about the relative permanence of our ideology and its physical manifestations! THAT understanding is an important contribution of this kind of art, and is no way reduced by reviewing the specifics of the site.
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Наша броня сильная, наши танки всегда устойчивы, И наши солдаты идут на фронт! Наши советские танки готовы к формированию, Движимые сыновьями и дочерьми нашей Родины!
С грохотом огня наши танки сияют на полях, Танки бросаются вперед, с их яростным зарядом! Когда мы отправлены на войну тов. Латыесковым, Мы не потерпим неудачу, мы будем защищать нашу Родину
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The last time I remember it was somewhere in Bulgaria. Back then, The country used be communist until 1990.
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i like this type of abandoned, urban, almost abandoned metro-station-esque stuff
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Communism, it just never works.
....Red bastards.
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Everyone knows how capitalists people have oppressed millions of societies through past, and we also know how they start calling everyone who rebels against them as Terrorists. In fact it was America who created terrorists for their own gain. If USSR was still alive then there would have been no Al Queda or ISIS. Which currently the biggest problems of earth.
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Maybe don't try to be offensive when critiquing ones Ideology!
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"...And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."
--- Mary Shelly, "Ozymandias", second half.
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How very fitting.
Of course, as a Yank, I'd have gone with "Eat it, ya Red bastards!"
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I have always found American attitudes to the left wing strange... after all, both ideologies are centred around the removing of oppression, aren't they?
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I put this beautiful picture in my journal : Exostism, second journey
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Brilliant picture, I've actually read about how this place was built, apparently every communist party member in Bulgaria was docked money to contribute towards the cost. It's like that poem by Percy Byshe Shelley "Ozymandias" "Look upon my works ye mighty and despair" about a shattered royal statue in Egypt, here you have a ruin left behind by the old communist empire.
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Such a gorgeous shot and building!
I came across photos of this building on another site and was immediately reminded of this shot, which thankfully I had faved and could confirm that it was the same building
The writing around the party logo says 'Proletarians of the world unite!' if anyone was curious.
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Fantastic work! I'm new to this site and you really impressed me! Sad that this really caught my attention as out government in the US is heading down this road as pictured. I lived in Italy for 7 years back in the '90's and recognized some of the places you've worked. You're awesome! Thanks for the thrill.
Mike
Gatlinburg Signs
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This is the Buzludzha Monument. It is located in Bulgaria.
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Now I know exactly where you can find this. But since the authour wants us to stay silent, I will not say :3
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No, the authour forbade; plus, you can figure it out quite easily
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wow I can read it "пролетарии от всички страни съединявайте се!".. is this somewhere in bulgaria?
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Holy shit, people, it's a fucking beautiful picture.
Just shut up and stare at it. It's beautiful.
This has nothing to do with ideals, why are we having a debate.
Look at the pretty picture, damn it!
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oh that's in Bulgaria 
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Following the logic of what we see in this photo the progressive mankind must destroy the pyramids in Egypt because they were built on the orders of the Pharaohs who cruelly exploited the people of Kemet. Oh, those human inferiority complexes ...
It is necessary to restore this amazing building.
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After reading many stupid comments from Bulgarians, I would almost love for this place to be completely vandalized (what is left of it), and even happier if it was done by foreign tourists. But I am afraid that even that wouldn't show them :/
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It's sad in a way. How such an impressive building has been abondoned to the sands of time.
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Nice location, easy photo, too much processing, my thoughts!
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