THE “ZOLOTY VOROTA” METRO STATION AS A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF HISTORICAL MEMORY IN URBAN SPACE

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the artistic and stylistic features of the design of the Zoloti Vorota metro station in Kyiv as an example of the integration of historical cultural memory into urban space. The study examines the architectural and artistic concepts of the station, the historical and iconographic program of its mosaic panels, and their distinctive stylized forms in the context of the transformation of the Byzantine canon. It has been established that the organic synthesis of architectural form and the mosaic ensemble functions as a visual-communicative system that reflects the spiritual image of Kyivan Rus’, the “golden age” of culture and statehood, and constructs a coherent historical and cultural narrative. A comparative analysis of the mosaics of the Zoloti Vorota station with those of Saint Sophia Cathedral makes it possible to identify transformations in conceptual frameworks–from a sacred to a historically representative model. Within the artistic and stylistic framework, the study analyzes the transformation of stylization forms in the art of Kyivan Rus’ under the influence of the Byzantine canon toward a distinct Ukrainian stylistic identity. The practical significance of the research lies in its relevance for designing the semiotics of patriotic spaces within the context of national stylistics as a component of cultural heritage. This approach enables not only the preservation but also the interpretation and integration of cultural meanings into urban environments as a concept of cultural identity. The findings can be applied in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of art history, architecture, cultural studies, and urbanism, as well as in contemporary practices of designing public spaces aimed at fostering a nationally oriented environment. The proposed approach to analyzing the figurative and artistic language of the Zoloti Vorota metro station opens new perspectives for further research into the semiotic mechanisms of visual communication in urban contexts. Particular attention is given to the role of monumental decorative art as a means of transmitting historical memory and shaping collective identity. It is emphasized that the interpretation of the Byzantine canon within the modern urban environment is not a mechanical reproduction but rather a creative process of reinterpretation, adaptation, and actualization of cultural codes in new socio-cultural realities. Thus, the Zoloti Vorota metro station is considered not merely as a transport facility but as an integral artistic and semiotic complex functioning as a space of cultural representation, historical dialogue, and aesthetic influence. Its visual system serves as an important instrument in shaping national consciousness, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Ukraine’s cultural heritage within the context of contemporary urban development