"Talnakh Will Be!" (1960s) by Aleksander Vladimirovich Ishin captures the raw energy of Soviet industrial expansion during the northern development campaigns. This work documents the early construction of Talnakh, a mining town founded in 1960 after the discovery of rich nickel deposits in Siberia.
It was made during a time when artists were expected to chronicle and elevate massive state-led projects. Ishin’s modernist style reflects both the unforgiving conditions of the north and the relentless optimism behind Soviet progress.
The composition pulls together machines, buildings, and bold propaganda text in a tightly structured layout. Bulldozers, cranes, and rising structures create strong vertical and diagonal lines, echoing the town's literal rise from the tundra. The slogans—*“Geologists! Talnakh! Multiply the riches of the motherland!”* and *“On the construction site of Talnakh, increase the pace!”*—are embedded into the visual flow.
Text and image aren’t separate here; they work as one, amplifying the political message through visual force. It’s a clear example of how Soviet art merged ideology with aesthetics.
Visually, the black-and-white contrast and sharp geometry point to Constructivist roots, while the tone aligns with the severe style that gained ground in the 1960s. Ishin’s use of clean lines and blocky forms emphasizes strength and movement.
The machinery and buildings are simplified to the point of abstraction, hinting at Cubist and Futurist influences while staying clear enough for propaganda use. This balance—between modernist technique and ideological clarity—is where the work finds its power.
Ishin graduated from the Surikov State Art Institute in 1966. A 1965 trip to Norilsk deeply shaped his vision. That same year, he held solo shows at the Palace of Culture in Norilsk and the *Youth* magazine offices in Moscow. His work was later shown at the Central House of Workers in the Arts (1976), “Mars” Gallery (1991), and the Central House of Artists (1991).
In 1992, he held a solo exhibition in Landkern, Germany. He was named an Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation in 2000 and a People’s Artist in 2011. His works are held in major institutions including the State Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, the State Museum of Modern Art in Tsaritsyno, and the Marc Chagall Museum in Vitebsk.
