Identities Decolonized: Eastern European Architecture and Art

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course re-examines the cultural heritage of Eastern Europe. This goal is driven by recognition that the region has been deeply influenced by historical and political forces, often resulting in the suppression or distortion of diverse cultural identities. The course explores architecture and art through the concept of decolonization of identities after the long-standing influence of the Soviet Union. This influence led to the suppression of local traditions and the imposition of a monolithic cultural identity, architectural style, and art in the region. The topics will cover the cases of artists forced into exile by the socialist regime and working worldwide. "Identities Decolonized" will investigate the post-1991 era, analyzing how artists and architects have competed with inherited legacies, reasserted national identities, and navigated global artistic trends. The course examines architecture as a decolonizing tool. The course also explores arts and crafts in the Soviet Union, the appropriation of ethnic crafts and symbols by Soviet design and mass production, and the revival of arts and crafts in the post-Soviet period. This course is designed to foster critical thinking about identity, representation, and the power dynamics through the lens of art and architectural history.