Digital artist Max Bedulenko is reimagining cyberpunk through a distinctly Eastern cultural lens, blending futuristic cityscapes with influences drawn from Persian mythology, post-Soviet environments, and Asian-inspired worldbuilding. Featured by, Bedulenko’s work moves beyond the traditional neon-heavy cyberpunk formula by exploring how different regional histories and visual traditions can reshape the genre.
Rather than focusing solely on the classic “high-tech, low-life” themes associated with Western cyberpunk, Bedulenko creates fictional worlds filled with cultural hybridity and atmospheric storytelling. His environments include sprawling lake cities, mythological gateways, and futuristic civilizations influenced by Eastern architecture and symbolism. The artist describes his creative process as a search for “new syntheses,” combining elements that would not normally coexist to form entirely new visual identities.
The article also highlights how Bedulenko’s upbringing in Minsk influenced his artistic curiosity. Growing up surrounded by what he considered relatively uninspiring architecture pushed him to study and reinterpret the heritage of other cultures. This fascination became central to his fictional universe, Velvet Road, where different societies, landscapes, and technologies collide in ways that feel both futuristic and culturally grounded.
More broadly, the feature reflects a growing evolution in cyberpunk itself. Traditionally dominated by Western and Japanese influences, the genre is increasingly being adapted through regional perspectives and local mythologies. Researchers and online creative communities alike note that cyberpunk is no longer just a visual style of neon lights and dystopian cities, but a flexible storytelling framework shaped by cultural context and social identity.
