20 Before And After Pics By Digital Artist Andrey Goopsa Showing How Post-Soviet Countries Should Look Today
Andrey Goopsa is an Ukrainian digital artist and blogger who launched a project called Flourishing two years ago. In his project, the artist gives post-Soviet cities modern makeovers to show how they should like vs. how they actually look today.
In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the artist said the project started after finishing his studies. Before starting it, Andrey didn’t know much about architecture and infrastructure. “I developed my knowledge with the ‘Flourishing’ project, When I was set on the subject and location of my next video, I did lots of research and applied that knowledge,” explained the artist. “Today, I have built up knowledge and don’t have to dig through the internet to create another video episode for the project.”
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#1 Pripyat, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#2 Vorkuta, Russia
Image source: goopsik
Andrey says that the first episode of Flourishing was just an experiment and that he didn’t expect it to develop into a series. “My first video wasn’t about infrastructure or city plans―I was creating entertainment content. As I was shooting about travels and abandoned places, I figured my audience would also be interested in Pripyat,” explained the artist. “I was already pretty skilled at Photoshop, so I decided to imagine how Pripyat would look today if the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster never happened.” The video ended up going viral, and Andrey used the opportunity to continue the project.
#3 Lesosibirsk, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#4 Pripyat, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
According to Andrey, the point of the project is not to criticize cities but to show the residents that there is a better way of living. “My goal is to show society that we need to demand more from our government,” says the artist. “Most of those people have no idea how cities should look in the 21st century. I hope that people start demanding a quality urban environment for themselves.”
See more of Andrey’s recreations below!
#5 Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#6 Pripyat, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#7 Cherkasy, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#8 Pripyat, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#9 Vorkuta, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#10 Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#11 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#12 Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#13 Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#14 Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#15 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#16 Minsk, Belarus
Image source: goopsik
#17 Ufa, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#18 Novokuznetsk, Russia
Image source: goopsik
#19 Cherkasy, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
#20 Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Image source: goopsik
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