Parade at the Dynamo Stadium

A member of the famous Society of easel painters, Sergey Luchishkin was born into the family of a shopkeeper. In his youth he attended a public speaking course which prepared him to become a stage director while, in parallel, he studied with the artist Abram Arkhipov at the Free art workshops. Luchishkin became known both as a painter and for his theatrical works. In the 1920s he actively experimented in the field of abstract art, both in painting and theatre.In the 1930s–1950s Luchishkin’s art returned to a more traditional path. He focused more on art and design, and played an active role in the burgeoning Soviet cinema of that time. Luchishkin worked as the art director on Grigory Alexandrov’s famous film "Circus" (1936) starring Lyubov Orlova.

"Parade at the Dynamo Stadium" reflects the theme of mass sporting events, which in the 1920s–1930s were an integral part of Soviet society. The main message of this work is the march towards a bright and happy future.

Luchishkin’s characters are blessed with physical strength and agility. In the foreground motorcyclists carry sportswomen who wave their banners happily as they race to victory in the face of the wind. In its story, layout and colours (the artist primarily uses clear and bright tones) ‘Parade at the Dynamo Stadium’ is perhaps the clearest contemporary understanding of Stalin’s grand aesthetic style.

Sport was widely promoted in the Soviet Union and sports festivals and parades to demonstrate the physical prowess of the Soviet people were carried out in the main stadiums and squares of the country. The first parade, albeit a very modest one, was held on Red Square in Moscow on May 25, 1919.

Paintings featured in this exhibition:

"Soviet Art. Soviet Sport" - Sotheby’s - London, Egland (19.12.2013 -14.01.2014);
"Советский спорт" - The Institute of Russian Realist Art - Moscow, Russia (05.02.2014 - 25.05.2014).