“Footballers” by Alexander Deineka

Soccer – to use the European name – became very popular in the Soviet 1950s, just as it was all over the world. A soccer team from the USSR took part in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, and by the 1960s had already won their first European Cup Final. These spectacular results made the game ever-more popular in the Soviet Union.

Tactical play, skilful ball-passes, and spectacular goals were the gripping attractions, along with the passionate ardour of the matches themselves kept millions of spectators of different ages glued to matches from start to finish. This sculptural group by the famous Soviet artist Alexander Deineka offers a great opportunity to soak up the absorbing atmosphere of the game.

We see three players who are locked in challenge for the ball. Take a close look at the movement dynamics going on in this sculpture. You'll get your best chance of appreciating all of the action here if you walk around the exhibit in a circle. The different points of view you get give you the chance to look on at different moments and aspects of this brief sporting stand-off.  It seems that the players knit tightly into something like a column, but then split up. One group seem to form a vertical line, then split sharply away from the axis to one side. Of course, the players in the sculpture are rooted to the spot – yet the silhouette they form dynamically mutates, conveying the action and excitement of the players who are shown.

Next to this exhibit you can also see a sculpture by Matvei Manizer, titled 'Female Athlete'. It's worth special attention, so come closer, and I'll continue my commentary.