Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith

by Jason Eskenazi

The story of Communism is the story of the twentieth century. For many, the Soviet Union existed, like their childhood, as a fairy tale where many of the realities of life were hidden from plain view. When the Berlin Wall finally fell, so too did the illusion of that utopia. Wonderland is a photographic exploration that portrays both the reality beneath the veneer of a utopian USSR and the affirmation of hope that should never be abandoned. And like all fairy tales try to teach the hard lessons of self-reliance. Jason Eskenazi was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Taylor Prize.

Genres: Photography

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. But not too beautiful.

In December I will take nothing but black and white, largely inspired by these images.

Update Jan 2016--Just re-read this. Can't believe how excellent and present and sharp the photography here is. Completely transports you to the place, the moment, that thing that made him click. Crystal clear communication of mysteries and moods. Life in the former soviet block in the years just after 1990.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) - a handful of stand-out images, but many are just on the cusp.

[Ясен В. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible body of work.