- Title: RUSSIA: Russia's biggest jigsaw cpuzzle solved in Siberia.
- Date: 27th August 2012
- Summary: CROWD APPLAUDING
- Embargoed: 11th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- City:
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA5E08OGYGI90BFTS9M4CT15UUS
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Residents of the Russian city of Novosibirsk solve a giant jigsaw portrait of German painter Albrecht Duerer, which organisers claim to be the biggest puzzle in the country.
Hundreds of people gathered to solve a 300 square-metre jigsaw in Novosibirsk on Sunday (August 26), which organisers claim was Russia's biggest puzzle.
Despite the rain and cold, long queues gathered, with people eager to take part in unveiling the hidden painting.
The giant image turned out to be a replica of a famous self portrait by the German artist Albrecht Duerer. The event was organised by local authorities together with Germany's Goethe Institute as part of 'The Year of Germany', a series of events celebrating German culture in Russia.
"We conceived this idea a long time ago with our colleagues in Moscow. This event was initiated by the city of Nuremberg, where Albrecht Duerer comes from. They came up with this idea and offered it to us as a part of the 'Year of Germany' in Russia. We were pleased to organise this puzzle gathering in our city. We enjoyed the idea of citizens and guests of the city putting this big icon of art together," the head of Goethe Institute in Novosibirsk Julia Hanske said.
About 200 local residents and guests assembled the giant puzzle, which was made up of 1023 pieces, with each 70 centimetres-squared.
It took three hours, but local Alesya Zadvornova said it had been worth the long queues and wet, chilly weather.
"The picture is very big, and there were lots of people wishing to participate, forming large queues to get their puzzle pieces. But in general the event is very well organised, people were putting pieces down one by one and forming the rows. The only big obstacles were probably rain and the relatively cold weather," she said.
In 2011 the city of Nuremberg successfully organised similar events in China, Poland, Italy, and Nuremberg itself.
The jigsaw puzzle is travelling around Russia and has already been solved by crowds in the Red Square in Moscow in June, and in Yekaterinburg in mid-August.
It will continue to travel further across the country as part of the "Year of Germany", hoping to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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