Another example of Russia's confused allegiances in the post-Communist era, this park gathers together scores of busts and full-size statues of Lenin and other now-disgraced Soviet icons. The pieces were torn down in the democratic fervor of the early 1990s, but not destroyed. Many ended up in a graceless heap in an alley in nearby Gorky Park before a group of independent artists righted them and gave them a new home behind the modern art museum. Despite its political overtones, the park is a peaceful and pleasant place, with wooden bench swings, bird feeders, and a garden of exotic and Russian pines. The statues of Soviet leaders are interspersed with other icons such as pianist Van Cliburn, and surrounded by lanes of avant-garde sculptures. It's easy to combine this with a visit to the modern art museum. Allow a half-hour or so for exploring and resting in the park.
Hours:
Daily 9am-9 pm
Address:
10 Krymsky Val
Location:
Behind the Central House of Artists
Transportation:
Metro: Oktyabrskaya or Park Kultury
Phone:
095/291-6248
Prices:
Admission $1.75
The MUSEON Arts Park
There is a nice corner of nature and art in central Moscow - the MUSEON Arts Park near the Artist Central House. The 20-hectare park is Moscow's art sightseeing attracting more and more visitors, especially tourists.
There was a barren on the site over 10 years ago. But in early 90s sculptures and statues of Communist leaders removed from their initial sites after the collapse of the Soviet Union started to flow to the spot. Occasionally genuine masterpieces made by prominent artists can be seen occasionally in this motley.
Since 1996 the MUSEON Park has been holding unusual artistic events - symposiums on sculpture. For two or three summer months the park turns into an art studio, in which sculptors create their works just before the audiences. Then, their creations become the MUSEON exhibits. That's how the park obtains new statues turning into an art park instead of being a park of ousted monuments.
This year most sculptors used white chalkstone - soft mineral that is quite difficult to work with. Impressive hosts of chalkstone crumbs, silver dust-colored trees witnessed the two-month artistic marathon. The symposium resulted in a gallery of sculptures standing freely on green grass. Snow-white dancing muses, Joker and Harlequin, beautiful Apollo, a few characters of Japan's Kabuki theatre.
The MUSEON Director Mikhail Pukemo says this year's symposium took on the form of an international art program. Last year most sculptors presented the Moscow union whereas this year the forum brought together artists from the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. The forum's first topic read "Theatre Astride Curtains". The second one -- sculptural interpretation of various arts, for one, dance and winemaking arts.
Next summer 10 works made at this year's symposium will be set up in the Ostankino museum, which will be hosting a European Historic Theatres festival. The landscape sculptures will definitely become the elements of theatre and park decoration.
