Original artwork description:

retro mailbox
100x60cm / oil on canvas / 2014

The name of the painting is taken from the Soviet song “My address is neither home nor street, my address… is the Soviet Union.” I removed the words “is the Soviet Union” from the title, leaving it without a concrete address.

This is a powerful metaphor that conveys an important message. The painting depicts an old mailbox — a symbol of the past, when every citizen of the USSR shared a common “address” that did not reflect their personal needs, identity, or individuality. Under this system, everything was collective, and it was impossible to have something truly one’s own. Along with personal freedoms, the Soviet Union also erased much of the cultural authenticity and identity of our people, replacing it with a standardized, imposed narrative.

The painting also carries a contemporary meaning connected to the war in Ukraine. Many people have lost their homes and are struggling to obtain a new “address” in a literal and emotional sense.

This work serves as an important reminder of the value of peace, personal freedom, and cultural identity — things that must never again be taken for granted.

Materials used:

oil on canvas

Tags:

#retro modern #cultural identity #political art #yellow blue #mail box #ukrainian history #retro stuff #retro architecture #spam advert #lost home #vintage postbox #retro mailbox #war context #soviet symbol #good advertisement