Memory of Russia: “Steps to Victory” exhibition kicks off in St. Petersburg

The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad in Victory Square (St. Petersburg) has launched an exhibition called “Steps to Victory”, which showcases photo collages made by Sergei Larenkov.

The author of works turns the spotlight on the history of liberation of Western European cities (Prague, Vienna, Berlin) by the Soviet army from Nazi invaders and an unforgettable Victory Parade in Moscow.

Sergei Larenkov managed to accurately combine photographs taken by Soviet military photographs in Europe and Moscow in 1945, and his own photos of modern Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Moscow. In the streets of modern capital cities author found houses which can be also traced in photographs made 65 years ago.

“Some sites shown in postcards were easy to recognize, but some places were rather hard to find. Sometimes it was just a matter of good luck, - says the author. – For example, a photo taken in Vienna, which shows Soviet gunners heading along the street towards the center of the Austrian capital city. I accidently recognized the building depicted in the photo as I was just strolling along the same street. Though many years have passed it hasn’t changed at all”.

The exhibition features over 80 photo collages made by Sergei Larenkov and a multimedia program based on them.