After braving extreme climates and even spy accusations to make his way through the 13 ex-Soviet countries, photographer Chris Herwig finally has all the pieces necessary to complete his latest art project. What exactly was the subject that drove this man to such extremes? Why, bus stops, of course. As part of an odd fascination that began 12 years ago on a bike trip from London to St. Petersburg, Herwig documents bus shelters that were built behind the Iron Curtain. It's logical to assume that these structures would've been standardized under Soviet control, but they managed to slip through the cracks. The humble shelter became an expression of public art and local talent, with each example wildly different from the next. Maybe it was fate—after all, the regional bus stop symbol was uncomfortably similar to the anarchy logo. Shymkent, Kazakhstan. All images via Herwig Photo. Poltava, Ukraine. Astana, Kazakhstan. Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. Herwig covered nearly 20,000 miles by car, bike, bus, and taxi to unearth these transportation gems. Escaping the façade of mere functionality, the stations, found on country roads, in the desert, and in ...
After braving extreme climates and even spy accusations to make his way through the 13 ex-Soviet countries, photographer Chris Herwig finally has all the pieces necessary to complete his latest art project. What exactly was the subject that drove this man to such extremes? Why, bus stops, of course. As part of an odd fascination that began 12 years ago on a bike trip from London to St. Petersburg, Herwig documents bus shelters that were built behind the Iron Curtain. It's logical to assume that these structures would've been standardized under Soviet control, but they managed to slip through the cracks. The humble shelter became an expression of public art and local talent, with each example wildly different from the next. Maybe it was fate—after all, the regional bus stop symbol was uncomfortably similar to the anarchy logo. Shymkent, Kazakhstan. All images via Herwig Photo. Poltava, Ukraine. Astana, Kazakhstan. Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. Herwig covered nearly 20,000 miles by car, bike, bus, and taxi to unearth these transportation gems. Escaping the façade of mere functionality, the stations, found on country roads, in the desert, and in ...