ICONIC SOVIET-ERA STATUE BY VERA MUKHINA IS BACK ON VIEW

A GIGANTIC SCULPTURE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED EXAMPLES OF THE ONCE PROUD SOVIET SOCIALIST REALISM IS BACK ON VIEW IN MOSCOW AFTER SIX YEARS OF EXTENSIVE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION. THE STAINLESS-STEEL SCULPTURE, CALLED 'WORKER AND COLLECTIVE FARM WOMAN', WAS UNVEILED FRIDAY IN A DAZZLING NIGHTTIME CEREMONY WITH FIREWORKS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS. THE 25.5 METER (80 FOOT) SCULPTURE DEPICTS THE TWO FIGURES STRIDING FORWARD PURPOSEFULLY, THEIR RAISED ARMS HOLDING A HAMMER AND A SICKLE TO REPLICATE THE ICONIC COMMUNIST SYMBOL. THE WORKER'S SASH AND THE WOMAN'S SKIRT FLOAT BEHIND THEM, AS IF THEY WERE MOVING AT HIGH SPEED. THE 72 YEAR OLD SCULPTURE BY VERA MUKHINA STANDS ON A NEW 34.5 METER (112 FOOT) PEDESTAL, WHICH IS TO HOUSE A MUSEUM, AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ALL-RUSSIA EXHIBITION CENTER, ITSELF A RENOWNED COLLECTION OF STALIN-ERA BUILDINGS.