History of St. Petersburg: "The Blockade Memory" exhibition in Narva Triumphal Arch

"The Blockade Memory" exhibition opens on January 28, 2015, in Narva Triumphal Arch (St. Petersburg).

The exhibits from the collections of the Museum of Urban Sculpture are the creative reflections in response to the most important and sad pages of history of Leningrad. Graphic series "Leningrad in the Blockade" by N. N. Novoseltseva is a very personal, since the she brought to her illustration sheets the reminiscences from her own experience, just as the sculptors L. M. Choline ("In the Trenches") and M. L. Zvyagin ("The Blockade"). Two stands are engaged with the Postcards created by Leningrad artists right during the war. These small sheets of thick paper had captured the city’s life - the besieged, fighting, protecting its treasures, and drawing a support from the previous generations’ exploits. These cards from the past are the vivid evidences of a fortitude and a faith in the Victory.

The exhibition features the original objects from besieged time, personal belongings, as well as the thorough reconstructions of weapons and uniforms.

For the Museum of Urban Sculpture the Blockade theme is special. The Museum had been working during the Great Patriotic War: its employees retained and sheltered memorials and were drawing sketches. After the war they were collecting and carefully preserving the evidences of those terrible days.

Set in the Narva Gate and devoted to the Blockade exhibition is eternally an important event in the life of the museum. The Gate was only 6 km from the front line. Not sheltered and not protected from the shells and shrapnel, the Arch rose over as a reminder of the glory of Russian arms and a symbol of the upcoming triumph for all 900 days of the Blockade. The columns of tanks and soldiers of the people’s volunteer corps went to the front through the Narva Gate, and after the Victory a cheering crowd was greeting the marching victorious soldiers returning from Europe. Soon after the war, the staff personnel of the Museum of Urban Sculpture began restoration of a monument that has received more than 2000 holes from shrapnel and shells.

The exhibition will be open until March 2.