The Beautiful Bus Stops Of Belarus: A Photography Project

Although Alexandra Soldatova graduated in Mathematics, she has become known for her penetrating photography. The Belarusian photographer’s It Must Be Beautiful project took her on a journey across Belarus, in search of the country’s most lavishly decorated bus stops. In this exclusive interview, we talk to Alexandra about her life and work.

The Culture Trip: Thanks for joining us, Alexandra. Tell us – what’s your story?

Alexandra Soldatova: I’m a photographer, currently living and working in Minsk, Belarus. I’m working in documentary and conceptual photography. My main field of interest is daily life and social questions in Belarus.
CT: What do you care about the most when taking photographs?

AS: Actually, it depends on the project. But in any case, the image is secondary for me, the most important thing is finding something new, some new ideas, understandings, people, whatever…

CT: Tell us about the It Must Be Beautiful series.

AS: In Belarus, my home country, people love when everything looks neat, clean and beautiful. I decided to search for the origins of this fact. So I researched the environment where people normally live and I was looking for rather outstanding and at the same time very common things which could influence the esthetic feeling of a person.

This project is about decorating reality. All these paintings on the bus stops are made through local authorities by unknown ‘artists’, with the only purpose to beautify empty landscape. Their intention is to create an etalon, a perfect beauty. Without knowing it, they create a ‘window’ to a fictional, idealistic space, which sometimes looks like a dream.

CT: How would you describe the current photography landscape in Belarus?

AS: Fast-changing. There is a paradox. At one side Belarus looks like a little bit frozen in time but form another, if you look at the same town or village in two years, you can’t recognize it sometimes. The same goes for culture.
CT: Tell us your favorite book (and it doesn’t have to be about photography!)

AS: Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s Snail on the Slope.

CT: Is there a city, country or place that inspires you every time you’re there?

AS: Croatia is gorgeous.
CT: What’s the single most valuable piece of advice you ever got?

AS: Had so many. Everything is valuable if you are able to hear it.

All images © Alexandra Soldatova, alexandrasoldatova.com

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.