The publication "Ruins of Belarus" recognized as one of the most beautiful Polish books
The book "Ruins of Belarus" by the VEHA archive project received an honorable mention at the 66th "Most Beautiful Polish Books 2025" competition, which took place in Warsaw during the International Book Fair. This is one of the most authoritative competitions in the region, where not only the content but also the book as an artistic object — its design, layout, material work, and print quality — are evaluated, writes Reform.news.
The creators of the book after receiving the honorable mention at the International Book Fair. Photo: social networks of the Center for Belarusian Culture in Bialystok
The publication is the result of collaborative work by Belarusian researchers and European designers. Representatives of the VEHA archive worked on the project, and professional designers were responsible for the visual part. The book was published thanks to cooperation with the Center for Belarusian Culture in Bialystok and the "Arsenal" modern art gallery. Translators and Polish printing houses also joined the project, ensuring a high level of printing quality.
Photo: Reform.news
"Ruins of Belarus" is a large 256-page publication that covers all regions of the country. It contains archival photographs and scientific texts prepared by Belarusian historians and researchers. A special feature of the book is that it showcases destroyed architectural monuments — castles, churches, Catholic churches, synagogues, manors, and other buildings, many of which no longer exist.
Materials for the book were collected from dozens of private and public archives. Thus, the publication effectively preserves the visual memory of Belarus's lost cultural heritage.
Photo: Reform.news
The book is produced in three languages — Belarusian, Polish, and English, making it accessible to a wide international audience.
Critics note that this is not just an album with old photographs, but a deep exploration of the themes of destruction and historical memory. Special attention is paid to the human dimension — how people at different times interacted with ruins: from respect and interest to indifference or even neglect.
The book can be purchased through publishers or in selected bookstores, as well as at the Warsaw book fair.
The award received opens up new opportunities for the project. The book will represent the art of book publishing at major international fairs, including those in Frankfurt and Leipzig, Germany, where it will participate in the global book design competition.
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Comments
Зразумеў чаму:
- Радкі налазяць адзін на другі. У польскай назве "y" канфліктуе з "ł", у беларускай "у" лезе ў "Бе".
- Пераход ад шрыфту без насечак да манашырыннага з насечкамі. Іншая пластыка і рытм. Пасля ангельскай і польскай назваў вока ўспрымае беларускую як "Руі ны", "Беларус і".
І не трэба казаць, што так нібыта спецыяльна зроблена. Калі ўвогуле замысел можна прачытаць: манументальнасць, халодная дакументальнасць, чорная пустэча як сімвал згубленага, то вось гэтая мітуслівасць, цесната і змена рытмаў невядома што адлюстроўвае, стварае адчуванне неакуратнасці і памылкі.
І ўнутры (старонка 110). С пачатку старонцы "Usačy District" налазіць на "2.15 Strunnie".
У подпісу пад фота "2.15 Strunnie The Uniate Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Струнне." перамешваюцца мовы, шрыфты, тлустае і звычайнае напісанне.
Звычайна даволі складана дабіцца, каб шматмоўныя тэксты (на шыльдах, у архіўных выданнях, на пашпартах, банкнотах) выглядалі б збалансавана, без перападаў у шчыльнасці і рытму. Тут жа наадварот даводзяць дысбаланс і дыскамфорт да максімуму.
Калі ласка, не "гуляйце з шрыфтамі".
Замінае ўспрыняццю галоўнага: архіўных фота, якія насамрэч унікальныя ў выданні і павінны быць галоўным, адзіным аб’ектам ўвагі.