Designer in the City: The Industrial Worker Glamorized

Ukrainian photographers Jeleza Rose, Andrew Onufriyenko, and designer Zhanna Syguta-Milova explore the role of “the creative in the city.” Examining post-Soviet metropolis, Welders is an ironic portrait series depicting the technical worker replaced by the overly resplendent “designer” of modern cityscapes. Each helmet was hand-crafted to depict the various aesthetics of the contemporary creative firm employee. Striking and humorous, the portraits call into question not only the change of the current urban workforce, but our evolving consumer-driven culture as a whole. With the industrial factory worker long gone, the “designer” counterpart feels both superficial and ludicrous. It is the pageantry without substance that gives Welders so much genuine irony and punch.

This post was contributed by photographer and Feature Shoot Intern Jenna Garrett.

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