Photo: from open sources
Unique monumental composition «The Wall of Memory» by artists Ada Rybachuk and Volodymyr Melnychenko, which was buried 36 years ago under the order of Communist Party under the tones of concrete (http://gb.kyivcity.gov.ua/projects/750) has now the chance to be renewed. All thanks to the initiative of Yevhen Bereznitskiy and Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA), because this spring, work began on resumption of «The Wall of Remembrance».
«Wall» is a symbol. I have known about it for a long time. Many of those who saw it were fond of its massive interesting architecture. But especially no one knew that this «Wall» in itself conceals. I have been studying art for a long time. I knew the essence of her story, conflict around this project. However, for a long time I did not understand that it was possible to resume historical justice. I was lucky to get acquainted with people who knew Volodymyr well (Volodymyr Melnychenko – one of the authors of the «The Wall of Remembrance» – Ed.), and knew what is the whole story is about. There were attempts to resume «Wall», and I was always interested, why no one could do it. It seemed to me that at the moment you can try, because at the moment the culture is given more attention. Within the framework of Kyiv Art Week festival we decided to try to draw attention of city to this story, to this problem. And we, within the framework of theme of the festival, announced project for renewal of «Wall», Yevhen Bereznitskiy, author of Kyiv Art Week project told in an exclusive interview to The Journalist.
As you know, sculptors Volodymyr Melnychenko and Ada Rybachuk for 13 years, from 1968 to 1981, created a large architectural landmark in Kiev at the Baykovoye cemetery. Before they began the bas-relief «The Wall of Remembrance» they studied sacred eschatology (a section of theology and philosophy that makes up system of views and beliefs about end of the world, as well as destiny of mankind and Universe – ed.), burial rites and symbols, and also world mythology. In December 1981, the project was almost completed; it remained only to paint the figures. This object was unique not only in content, but also in shape and size. Its length is 213 m, height – from 4,5 to 16 m, and the total area – over 2 thousand m2.
«Ada then told me that we should portray stories about the meaning of human life. This was the purpose of our work. We prepared a lot before starting to work. The more we read, the more we became addicted to work. We understood that this is the most important work of our life. These 13 years we have not met with friends, did not attend events, rarely went to museums or exhibitions», recalled Volodymyr Melnychenko, co-author of «The Wall of Remembrance».
But in 1982, according to the order of the first secretary of Ukrainian Communist Party, Volodymyr Shcherbytskiy, monument was poured with concrete. For 36 years Ukrainian residents and guests of capital, were deprived of opportunity to see this indescribable beauty created by hands of Ukrainian sculptors, filled with profound philosophical content and symbolism.
«We did it all with our own hands. On the «Wall» every detail is thought over. We had several thousand pages of text, where we described these forms, how everything should be. What happened (when the work was poured with concrete – ed.) for us and Ada was a great tragedy. All 36 years I am under this concrete. I even felt it physically at first, and Ada lived only with hopes that the «Wall» would resume», said artist Volodymyr Melnychenko with a melancholy voice and tears in his eyes.
However, indifferent people undertook to renew justice and yet give life to a unique historical landmark that is part of the park ensemble on the Baikove cemetery. This spring, one of the fragments of «The Wall of Remembrance» was restored: 6 m2 of the composition were released from the concrete. This is only a small part, crumbs, in comparison with the scale of the whole project. However, even such work was financially costly. Capital spent on this 50 thousand UAH.
«These 6 m2, which we managed to resume in May, were a symbolic breakthrough. But we understood that we will face the problem of financing, because such work is expensive», said Yevhen Bereznitskiy, author of Kyiv Art Week project.
According to previous estimates, in order to resume all the attraction, over one million hryvnia is needed. Therefore, now project is registered within the framework of «Public Budget» initiative, purpose of which is to collect as much as possible of amount needed. But for this, this project needs to become more popular than other proposals, that is, to collect the voices of citizens. Only a few days left until the voting is over. At the moment, this is the only chance to revive life of masterpiece.
«To continue renewal of «Wall», we need to raise money. This money will be spent on physical labor of people who will be jackhammers to remove the layering of concrete. Such people need a lot, special equipment is also needed», explained author of initiative Yevhen Bereznitskiy.
According to authors of this initiative, this restoration of the «The Wall of Remembrance» will become an indicator of the European attitude to its own historical and cultural heritage, as well as the manifestation of humanity and cooperation of power and society for the common noble purpose.
«Finally, I will say that thanks to the events of this year 2018 and to indifferent people there is a hope that our work will be seen. I thank all young artists who support initiative to renew «The Wall of Remembrance». They understand what we did at that time», Volodymyr Melnychenko summed up the results.
More detailed information about architectural composition «The Wall of Memory», its subjects, symbolism and creation, as well as the possible renewal of historical sight to The Journalist was told by her co-author, artist Volodymyr Melnychenko and author of project Kyiv Art Week Yevhen Bereznitskiy.
You can support project «The Wall of Memory» here
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