CCCP UNDERGROUND - Metro Stations of the Soviet Era

Visions of Utopia: Palaces for the Working Class

Fighters made of bronze, giant sculptures with hammer and sickle, cosmonauts on ceramic panels or as metal reliefs, and mosaics praising the beauty of Socialism. If you immerse yourself today into the subway systems in countries that formerly belonged to the USSR and of Eastern Europe, time seems to stand still. The stations are chronicles of the history and art of a long vanished world power, conceived as prestige projects, thousands of kilometers apart, and created under different conditions in different times.

In this serie, photographer Frank Herfort presents the metro systems of the Soviet era. His photographs come together to form a holistic and comprehensive representation of socialist art that at the same time relates strongly to the modern residents of the cities, skillfully snatching elusive but precious moments from the whirlpool of everyday life.

This body of work represents the largest photographic collection ever created of Soviet-era subway stations. Between 2014 and 2022, Frank Herfort photographed more than 700 metro stations across 19 cities in 10 countries, resulting in a complete series of around 1,500 photographs.

Presented here is a carefully curated selection from the series - chosen for its visual strength, architectural character, and ability to bring a distinctive presence into a space. Each print is produced on Fine Art photographic paper by the renowned German manufacturer Hahnemühle, a company celebrated for crafting exceptional paper since the 15th century. All prints are released in strictly limited editions: each size is limited to 10 prints, while the two largest formats are limited to only 3 prints each. Every print is accompanied by a stamped and signed Certificate of Authenticity.