About
Across the former Soviet Union and beyond, statues, mosaics, and murals of Vladimir Lenin still stand today. Some are well known and protected. Others hide in forests, old factories, schools, or forgotten squares. Finding Lenin is a visual archive that explores these vanishing monuments before they disappear completely.
Why Lenin?
Lenin was the leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution and the first head of the Soviet Union. After his death in 1924, his image appeared everywhere. Statues stood in every town, mosaics decorated train stations, and portraits hung in schools and offices. These visual traces were part of everyday life for millions of people.
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Lenin monuments were removed. Some were destroyed, others were moved to parks or museums. Yet many remain in place, slowly decaying, hidden, or simply forgotten. This site documents these places and objects through photography and short stories.
Who I Am
My name is Andre Joosse, photographer and urban explorer from UrbEx.nl. While exploring abandoned buildings across Europe, I often find traces of the Soviet past. Lenin appears again and again—in statues, wall art, reliefs, and murals. I have always had a fascination with the aesthetics and atmosphere of Soviet sites.
I enjoy the nostalgia these places create. But this does not mean that I support past or present political actions of the Soviet Union or related movements. My interest is historical and visual. I document what remains, before it disappears.
Purpose of This Site
Finding Lenin collects and shares my photographs of Lenin monuments and other Soviet visual expressions. The site aims to:
- Document Lenin statues, mosaics, and artworks worldwide
- Provide short historical context for each piece
- Show how political symbols survive, change, or vanish over time
- Create a growing archive for researchers, enthusiasts, and curious visitors
Besides Lenin, I also highlight other Soviet symbols and artworks I find on my journeys. This mix creates a broader picture of the Soviet visual world.
Explore the archive, follow the map, and help keep the memory of these unique monuments alive.
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