Boris Zasypkin's 1946 Manuscript Reassesses Socialist Realism in Uzbek Architecture

In her piece for ARTMargins, Anna Pronina explores Boris Zasypkin's 1946 unpublished manuscript, '25 Years of Creative Work of Soviet Architects of Uzbekistan,' which questions the standard interpretation of Socialist Realism as a cohesive, prescriptive style. The manuscript illustrates that architectural practices in Uzbekistan are diverse and contested, influenced by local traditions, varying interactions with heritage, and personal creative methods, rather than solely dictated by ideology from above. The article features an English translation of selected passages, broadening access to this significant primary source for the academic community. It was published in ARTMargins Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 99-104, with DOI 10.1162/ARTM.a.378.