Architecture at the End of the Earth: William Craft Brumfield’s Photographs of the Russian North

Architecture at the End of the Earth explores the Russian North and its multifaceted architectural legacy through the photographs of the historian, slavicist and photographer William Craft Brumfield. 

Over the past four decades, Brumfield has traveled extensively in Russia, documenting and photographing the country’s diverse architecture. The materials presented are part of a multi-decade archiving project, which has been recognized in the United States and Russia for its historical as well as artistic accomplishment.

The exhibition features photographs of seven locales, each presenting a different aspect of the region’s architecture. The photographs tell a complex story, often of neglect and ultimate loss, but also of reconstruction and reinvention. Featuring photographs that span almost two decades, as well as graphics and audio-visual components, the exhibition also chronicles Brumfield’s travels through the North, and traces his encounters with communities striving to maintain continuity with their own history.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website