VDNKh Exhibition, Moscow

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At first this statue became for an exhibition in Paris.1937 . The idea to crown the Soviet pavilion of the World Parisian exhibition of pavilion monument « Worker and Farmer», executed of metal, belongs to architect B.M.Iofanu. V.I.Muhina is sculptor of this monument. When the exhibition was closed, in France there was a desire to leave a monument in Paris, and even the attention to the question to buy the monument at the Soviet government . But it has already been decided to dismantle and transport a statue to Moscow.

On creation «the Worker and the collective farmer» Iofana has pushed idea of an antique statue of "Tiranobortsy" representing Kritija and Nesiota, standing near to swords in hands.

«Rabochy and Kolchoznica» — an outstanding monument of monumental art, «an ideal and a symbol of the Soviet epoch», representing dynamical sculptural group of two figures with the sickle and a hammer lifted over heads!
Also pic of this monument is illumination of a film studio "Mosfilm"

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Stalin has entrusted building of the All-Union agricultural exhibition to architect Vyacheslav Konstantinovichu Oltorzhevsky. It is curious that nobody knows, why for the exhibition centre the form of nine planets of Solar system has been chosen. It was the general layout. The central square carried the name «Area of mechanisation» and was "Sun", and other planets have settled down round it in the form of nine pavilions.

Unfortunately Oltorzhevsky couldn't realize all plans and ideas. Him have arrested for the unknown reasons and have banished in camp near Vorkuta.

After arrest Oltorzhevsky the construction plan has cardinally changed. For example, from the Mechanization area Lenin's statue has been cleaned, and instead of Stalin's sculpture the fountain of Friendship of the People is put.

Quite probably that among Joseph Stalin's confidants there were the people having access to occult, esoteric knowledge. That they have convinced Stalin to construct a huge cult complex which somehow could increase the party power. That such difficult system worked, all its parts should be ideally coordinated.

These can explain, why in ВДНХ there are no sculptures of leaders of proletariat. They broke an order of an arrangement of cult elements. Can be the first architect have ousted because it interfered with ground plans and much changed. It is interesting, what would happen with Soviet Union if building went according to the primary general layout?

The exposition shows life of animals and men on the territory of modern Russia during the ice ages and includes important foundlings like remains of mammoths.
Weekdays 10:00-19:00 (except Monday).
Weekends and holidays 10:00-20:00.

Located at the VDNKh (Vuh Denk' Ha) Metro stop, Orange Line, directly across Prospect Mira from teh Cosmos Hotel, this an amusement park, exhibition hall, garden, and restaurant center. You can walk underground to cross the street, and this tunnel is filled with little shops. The Exhibition Center is a great place to wander, grab a bite, ride the ferris wheel, or tour the exhibition hall - formerly the Hall of Economic Achievement. It's used now for commercial exhibitions and shows. There's a series of sculptures in honor of the cosmonauts that's pretty impressive. You can buy souvenirs of good quality here. In the summer, it's a beautiful park, and in the winter it's a snowy wonderland. There is a winter festival in late December, early January

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The All-Russia Exhibition Centre was formerly known under its Soviet title: Exhibition of Economic Achievements (VDNKh).

Under the Soviets the area used to be a display of the achievements of Socialism including Stalinist architecture.

Nowadays the area is used as a large recreation park with a funfair. In the the former exhibition pavillions all kinds of shops and stalls can be found.

Directions:
The VVT is located north of the city centre in the suburb Ostankino. The nearest metro stop is VDNKh (orange line).

Website: http://www.vvcentre.ru/

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In 1961 the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first person to fly into space.

A 100 m high titanium Space Obelisk which is topped by a rocket commemorates this event. The Soviet style Obelisk was unveiled in 1964.

Directions:
The Space Obelisk can be found just south of the VVT grounds (Metro: VDNKh).

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At the time of my visit (summer 1968) this exhibition was all about glorifying the successes of the USSR. It's space programme was a major part of the "glorifyng" with rockets, spacecraft and satellite on show for all to see. Being 15 at the time, I loved it!

No doubt the theme of the place will have changed a bit since then....

This is the only one exhibition of exotic butterflies from Asia, Africa and America in Russia. You will also find some other exotic insects there. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (7 p.m. on weekend). You will find it near the fountain "The friendship of the peoples".

The "All-Russia Exhibition Centre" was in the soviet union a huge exposition of the last advances of each soviet republic. Now days part of it is private and in use for small/medium bussines. Many trade fairs and exhibitions take place here and there is a permanent exhibition of different motives of the soviet era. What I liked most was the open air museum with a sky rocket used in the early days of the space conquest and some old airplanes. U can spend some hours just walking through this huge park. Many people go there to run or ride bycicle.

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All-Russian Exhibition Centre is a permanent general-purpose trade show in Moscow, Russia.

The exhibition was established February 17, 1935 as the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (VSKhV) (Vsesoyuznaya Selsko-Khozyaystvennaya Vystavka). Existing site was approved in August, 1935. Master plan by Vyacheslav Oltarzhevsky was approved in April, 1936, and the first show season was announced to begin in July, 1937.

However, the plans didn't materialize, and 3 weeks before the deadline Stalin personally postponed the exhibition by one year (to August 1938). It seemed that this time everything will be ready on time, and again the builders failed to complete their work, and regional authorities failed to select and deliver proper exhibits. Some pavillions and the 1937 entrance gates by Oltarzhevsky were torn down to be replaced with more appropriate structures (most pavillions were criticized for having no windows). According to Oltarzhevsky's original plan, all of the pavilions were to be constructed from wood. In 1938, a government commission examined the construction and decided that it did not suit the ideological direction of the moment. The exhibition was considered too modest and too temporary. Oltarzhevsky was arrested, together with the Comissar for Agriculture and his staff, and eventually released in 1943. Later, he worked on the 1947-1953 Moscow skyscraper project.

In 1992, VDNKh was renamed, receiving its current name VVC. It occupies 2,375,000 square metres of which 266,000 square metres are used for indoor exhibits. The territory of VVC is greater than that of the Principality of Monaco and has approximately 400 buildings. Inadequate maintenance of Vera Mukhina's statue caused such disrepair that the statue was disassembled