CARAVANS & COMMISSARS

State sponsored images are rarely produced without a psychological motive. They use fear, anger, hope or pride, to influence populations. Political propaganda became especially prevalent during World War I and World War II to boost morale and dehumanize enemies. Totalitarian states like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union used posters to control public opinion and eliminate opposition. One subset of images created during Stalin’s rule was designed to prevent the population from

Rooted in the past, the Heydar Aliyev Center presents the independent nation of Azerbaijan as both modern and forward looking. Completed in 2012, Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center has become a defining symbol of new, independent Azerbaijan. It appears on the 200 Manat banknote, the highest value Azerbaijani bill. Its unique form turns away from the architecture of the Soviet Union to embrace local Azerbaijani culture and geography. The curves of Hadid’s building resemble the

Heading east from the old city of Baku, one enters the city’s modern restaurant district, with restaurants from every corner of the globe. A glance through the windows of one cafe reveals gigantic dumplings hanging from the ceiling. Brought to Azerbaijan by Georgian immigrants, the garlic-shaped meat-filled dumplings are known as khinkali, and they are just one of the many types of dumplings found throughout the post-Soviet states. Today, dumplings can be found from China to