Photo “This is my revenge against Putin”. How Russia’s War in Ukraine Changed a Ukrainian Artist’s Sculpture

Michael Reva A Ukrainian sculptor, the most famous Ukrainian sculptor, notes GuardianBut the playful, humorous style of his work changed after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and his works now take on darker forms, using fragments and missile fragments to recreate the horrific world of conflict.

The work of Mihailo Reva from Odessa – the fountain is the beginning of a beginningPhoto: Evgeniy Fesenko, Dreamstime.com

The horrors of Bucha and Mariupol – where Russian soldiers hanged civilians – inspired him to create a series of extraordinary new sculptures, which could be born out of convergence.Hoffmann’s Stories” and a dream.

The centerpiece is a four-meter tall sculpture of the ancient god Moloch in the form of a Russian bear. Reva built it from shrapnel and other bomb debris salvaged from the battlefield and welded together. “It’s like a big scary toy for children. It’s on wheels,” said Reva. “The bear has biblical associations and represents Moscow. You see it and it hypnotizes you. There is weakness and brutality.

Another sculpture that will really bother you is called Blossom. Its floral metal form was constructed from twisted parts of a Russian X-31 rocket that landed near Reva’s workshop in a resort in southern Ukraine. He broke down the doors of the summer house. Miraculously, Reva’s sculptures were undamaged. A neighbor collected the pieces and gave them to him.

The 10-piece collection bears the ironic title “Ruski Mir” or “Russian World”. Putin justified his entire offensive as an attempt to bring Ukraine back to a common cultural and civilizational place with Russia. For Ukrainians, the phrase means death, terror and destruction: a brutal attempt by one country to swallow another.

Riva did a job for Putin in 2002 and now he wants “revenge”.

In 2002, the Kiev government asked him to create a unique piece of jewelry for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reva designed a silver sundial. It contained a message about the importance of law. “Putin had it on his desk. At the time, I thought he was a reformer. Everyone did, including George W. Bush,” the sculptor said.

“This is my personal revenge,” Reva said from his spacious workshop in downtown Odessa.

“I had to find a form with Ruski Mir that everyone could understand. I’ve seen photos of the war in Ukraine, but that’s not enough. You need images that speak to everyone: art snobs and the average man and woman on the street. It must be the language of truth.

Photo:Yevgeny Fesenko|Dreamstime.com

See also  Murder: Shot dead near the house of a Russian collaborator in Kherson

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *