The Motherland Calls is the compositional centre of the monument-ensemble "Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. The statue is designed in the Soviet style of socialist realism. It was designed by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin, and declared the tallest statue in the world in 1967. At 85 m (279 ft), it is the tallest statue in Europe, the tallest in the eastern hemisphere outside of Asia and the tallest statue (excluding pedestals) of a woman in the world.

The work of sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich and engineer Nikolai Nikitin is an 85-metre (279 ft) figure of a woman stepping forward with a raised sword. The statue is an allegorical image of the Motherland, which calls on its sons and daughters to repulse the enemy and return to the attack.

The Motherland Calls is highly complex from an engineering point of view, due to its characteristic posture with a sword raised high in the right hand and the left hand extended in a calling gesture. The sculpture is hollow. The technology behind the hollow statue is based on a combination of prestressed concrete with wire ropes, a solution which can also be found in another work of Nikitin's, the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. Inside, the entire statue consists of separate cells or chambers, like rooms in a building. The concrete walls of the sculpture are 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) thick.

The construction of the monument was started in May 1959 and completed on 15 October 1967.[3] It was the tallest sculpture in the world at the time of creation. Restoration work on the main monument of the monument complex was done in 1972, when the sword was replaced by another entirely consisting of stainless steel.

It is most likely that Vuchetich sculpted the figure from the discus thrower Nina Dumbadze, and the face from his wife Vera. According to various sources, Valentina Izotova or Ekaterina Grebneva posed for the sculpture. It is also believed that the statue has parallels with the figure of the "Marseillaise" on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and that the statue's pose was inspired by the statue of Nike of Samothrace.

At night, the sculpture is illuminated by floodlights. It was specially illuminated as part of a light show titled "The Light of the Great Victory", marking the 72nd anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

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  • Big_Bob [any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    I got invited to a huge party where i know basically no one. I've got my drip ready, but as an autistic shut in with severe social anxiety, I'm low key freaking out.

    Wish me luck, comrades. I'm going to try my best to break out of my shell tonight!

    • Abraxiel
      ·
      2 years ago

      One time I went to a part where I didn't know anyone really, so I just started interviewing people.

    • bigboopballs [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      but as an autistic shut in with severe social anxiety

      same. how did you get invited to a party?

      • Big_Bob [any]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I got randomly invited by a coworker who sidegigs as a DJ. Sitting on the train station rn. Never been more drunk, but god damn what an insane night. I've been dancing and drinking till I can barely stand. Definitely going to feel like absolute shit tomorrow.

        • American_Communist22 [she/her,comrade/them]
          ·
          2 years ago

          Yay! social interaction! We autistic lads must occasionally grace the world with our magnificent presence so as to refresh our minds, it is our duty. A hard job, but it must be done.

    • TheSpectreOfGay [he/him, she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      you can do it! :meow-bounce:

      very unlikely you'll be the only person there who doesn't know anyone so im sure you'll find someone to talk to

    • President_Obama [they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Find the other autist with drip who's seated as far away from the music as possible, it me

    • HoChiMaxh [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Hell yeah. I don't know what your options are but if riding your bike is an option I always find it's such a good way to put me in an active and positive mindset for being social, so it could be a tool in the toolbox if you want to minimize your chance of being nervous. Have fun!

      Also consider arriving relatively early so you meet some people as they arrive before everybody is there, that's a good trick to know a non-zero number of people before things pop off.