Ryaba la Poule, Russian stained glass artwork at Madeleine Metro Station, France.
Ryaba la Poule is a stained glass installation made of colored glass panels positioned in the transfer corridor connecting two metro lines. The artwork displays figures and objects arranged to tell a visual narrative across multiple sections.
The installation was created in 2009 by a Russian artist and placed in a central Paris metro station to represent cultural exchange between two nations. This work became part of the station's permanent identity and continues to be encountered by thousands of passengers daily.
The artwork tells a story from Russian folk tradition that resonates across cultures, making it a meeting point between Eastern narrative and Parisian life. Visitors walking through the station encounter these images as part of their daily commute, turning a transit space into a cultural landmark.
The artwork is located in a passage between two metro lines, making it easy to access during transfers between them. Visit during quieter times of day to view the details without the crowds of rush hour commuters.
The artwork blends Soviet-era symbols like Sputnik with imagery from classical Russian folk tales, creating an unexpected connection between modern history and ancient storytelling. This particular mixture of influences is rarely seen elsewhere in Paris's public spaces.
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