The Socialist sculpture park.
janaline's world journey

The Socialist Sculpture Park in Moscow

Moscow has countless churches all over the city, but not all of them are open to the public
I love exploring the small churches dotted all over the city. Moscow has countless churches all over the city, but not all of them are open to the public

I explored the Tretyakov gallery area a couple of times during the first sunny weeks of May 2012. It was lovely just getting out of the small flat  after the long harsh winter, and spending some time outside in the sunshine.

Small church I found tucked between buildings, I couldnt even find it on the map
The entrance to the small church. It doesnt look very inviting

As I walked through the numerous side streets of this district I eventually reached the Moscow River. The whole of Moscow is filled with countless of beautiful old buildings and small churches hidden between them. I don’t know what this church is named , as I couldnt find it on the map, but it was lovely inside and smelled of incense and rose oil. I love that most of the churches are filled with icons and candles, makes it feel very mystical inside.

The church is small and old but very beautiful
Lovely mosaic outside the church

Close to this little church I came across the Socialist sculpture park. I didn’t realize you had to pay to enter the park so I just walked in and it must have looked as if I belonged because nobody stopped me. It was only on my second visit here that I was stopped and made to pay the entrance fee. Luckily for me I had my head phones in and didn’t say a word as I handed over my money so the lady took me for a Russian and I ended up paying half of what foreigners pay to enter.

The park is filled with discarded statues
The Socialist sculpture park.

The Park was established by the City of Moscow in 1992 and currently displays over 700 sculptures that had been brought here from all over the city when they tried to get rid of all the communist statues.

The Socialist sculpture park.
Almost all the statues are name-less

In October 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, smaller socialist realism statues of Soviet leaders and unidentifiable workers and peasants were removed from their pedestals, hauled to the park and left in their fallen form. The park became a big statue dumping ground.

At least some busts were put on podiums
Another very beautiful name-less statue
A forgotten war hero or politician
I cant see how this sculpture can be communistic

Most of themse starues were turned upright later, although they were all missing their original pedestals and some were broken beyond repair.

The Socialist sculpture park.
The park is filled with sculptures that have nothing to do with politics

In 1995, Muzeon added a World War II section – these sculptures, of the same socialist realism vintage, were never displayed in open air before then. In 1998 the park acquired 300 sculptures of victims of communist rule made by Evgeny Chubarov, and was installed as a single group.

World War II section
Old SSSR section
SSSR section with a statue of Lenin on the right
Another sculpture with Lenin

I think the most stunning of these fallen statues is a bust of Stalin (whose nose has been broken off). There are a couple of statues of Lenin and some Soviet emblems. The saddest part is that they have a whole section that is filled with the heads of statues that were destroyed while being moved here.

I think this was one of the best statues of the park
Statue of Stalin whose nose has been broken off
Whole section that is filled with the heads of statues that were destroyed
The broken heads close up
The Socialist sculpture park.
Some forgotten revolutionary
Love this sculpture!!
Cant see how this sculpture is political

I don’t understand how they classify what statues are communist as there are even statues of fairy tales here. I also couldn’t believe it when I found a patch where statues of t animals were displayed, never thought animals were communists.

The Socialist sculpture park.
Huge sculptures found at the exit of the park
Stunning Sculptures
There was a whole row of these sculptures

This park is right next to the Moscow River and I love just sitting here with a book or just to walk around whenever I have the time.

The Socialist sculpture park.
Make across this sculpture as I was already leaving the park

21 comments

  1. Great photos, and what an interesting park! When were you in Moscow, Janaline? Were you traveling alone? I’ve heard it is not an easy place for travelers, but my kids are interested in going.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  7. When my wife and I travel, we too love photographing the statues – they really tell about the history of the locale. Very unique story here!

    Thank you for visiting my photoblog today, as well. Happy and safe travels Janaline.

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    • Thank you Bruce! Yes, the statues of a city or country always tell such an interesting story about the history of the place and what happened to create the city we walk through at present!

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