Famous Soviet Monument Reinstallation

1. The exact time of the installation was unknown. It was rumored the installation would begin at 8 a.m. So it happened. At 7.50 a.m. the sculpture turned its side to everyone and then began to lift.

2. A special crane was ordered in Finland to lift the sculpture. Such cranes are only three in the world. It lifted the sculpture that weighed about 200 tons.

3. The sculpture was craned very slowly – almost for half an hour. All this time journalists and onlookers had been buzzing around detaining streetcars movement.

4. The monument was taken to 40 pieces in 2003. It was planned back then that the sculpture would be restored and placed back in its place in 2005. However, the restoration process was hampered by financial problems and reinstallation delayed.

5. The sculpture “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” stands against the background of clear blue sky.

6. The “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” is being lifted to its original base.

7. Finishing work is being completed to the base; modern restorers had to abandon the idea of using beautiful gazganskii marble because it is very expensive and not cold-resistant. Furthermore, it fades. It was decided to use granite. Twelve different hues of granite were ordered from Italy, Kazakhstan, Turkey and China.

8. Vera Mukhina museum, exhibition pavilions and a conference hall will be housed inside the pedestal.

9. Workers place the monument on its base.

10. The feet of the worker (left) and kolkhoz woman (right).

11. The press was kept out of reinstallation site. Here, one of officials takes picture of the installation process.

12. The framework of the sculpture was strengthened, several joints were replaced. Renewed monument will be more robust than before, builders promise. As for the pedestal, it is the dead ringer of the original. Statues of athletes and working people of former USSR will be installed on four stelas of 1 meter high. A huge original emblem is in the middle of the pedestal.

13. “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” is placed to its original site after more than five years of restoration.

14. This monument is one of symbols of Soviet architecture. The worker holds aloft a hammer and the kolkhoz woman a sickle to form the hammer and sickle symbol. The sculpture is known as the symbol of “Mosfilm” film studio.