Brutalism is a deeply dividing architectural style - a subcategory of the Modernist movement that featured bare concrete finishes, unusual shapes, and an undoubtedly unique aesthetic. Whilst emerging into prominence in 1950s Great Britain, the most iconic examples of this architectural style are arguably found in Eastern Europe - particularly in the territory formerly known as Yugoslavia.
Seeking to rebuild a country greatly affected by the second world war, the socialist Yugoslavian government sought to reconstruct the state, precipitating the construction of concrete residential blocks, civic centres, and monuments - a visual identity poised between the east and the west. Alexey Kozhenkov’s photo series "Spaces for Winds" is an exploration of the Brutalist architecture of present-day Serbia, particularly the architecture of the outskirts of Belgrade. A muted colour palette, the presence of aggregated forms, and an overwhelming sense of scale typify the photographs in Kozhenkov’s series, providing an evocative look into an enduring architectural style.
