A sculptural composition with Joseph Stalin has been unveiled at one of the transfer corridors of the “Taganskaya” station in the Moscow subway system. The piece of artwork was unveiled in honor of the 90th anniversary of the subway. It is a replica of the bas-relief, which until 1966 was located in the end of the station. During the construction of the transfer corridors to a new metro line the historic work was destroyed. This was well after Khrushchev’s crusade to delete Stalin from history had began, so it I not surprising that the monument was destroyed rather than carefully transferred.

Although this monument had Stalin front-and-center it should be noted that the meaning behind it was to celebrate the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany. Thus, it was a monument dedicated to the people of the Soviet Union and the big win in Europe, that just so happened to feature the former general secretary at center stage.

The bas-relief has come under fire from many patriotic groups. Not because it depicts Stalin, who is not seen as a negative historical figure within Russia, but because many feel that it was not a proper recreation. The supposed use of 3D printing in its construction has caused a fury online leading many to be disappointed and consider the work to be “half-baked”.

Image above: the original monument as it was until 1966

According to some experts the colors are also a bit off and some of the ornaments do not match the original. The materials that were used to coat the original providing a nice finish were substituted for something more modern. Thus it stands out as looking different from other monuments of the era done in the same style.

Image above: locals now bring fresh flowers to the grave of the leader of the USSR during WWII.

Mr. Stalin himself said that the “After my death, a lot of garbage will be put on my grave, but the wind of history will mercilessly dispel it” and over the last two decades many privately-funded monuments to this historical figure have been erected all across Russia. This big restoration in the Moscow subway system became quite a news sensation because of its scale, public funding, extremely visible and high-traffic location, and use of modern sculptural techniques.