Few residents of Kharkiv are unfamiliar with the monument to the mythical founder of the city of Kharkiv, the Cossack Kharko, located at the beginning of Nauki Avenue. The artistic merits of this one-of-a-kind equestrian statue are so great that they have become a source of numerous jokes and nicknames for Kharkiv residents.
However, few people today realize that the monument to the founders of Kharkiv, erected in honor of the city’s 350th anniversary, could have looked completely different.
After all, more than 12 years ago, a completely different project won first prize in the competition. The monument was a massive arch and was designed by the following team of architects:
- Architects S.N. Bogdanovich and Y.M. Shkodovsky.
- Sculptors F.Y. Betliemsky and L.N. Betliemskaya.
- With the participation of V.V. Glazko, L.A. Kurasova, and S.A. Belousov.
This Saturday, we had the good fortune to speak with one of the creators of this project, the remarkably talented sculptor Maestro Felix Yaroslavovich Betliysky. He kindly gave us the opportunity to review the sketches of the monument and see its model.
According to Felix Yaroslavovich, the arch symbolized a gateway to a new life for those who came to the peaceful lands of Sloboda Ukraine.
The creators imbued the monument with profound symbolism. For example, St. George the Victorious represents victory over evil; the woman with a child symbolizes motherhood, love, and the beginning of new life; and the bandura player is the singer of history.
The plan was to depict the most significant events that have taken place in our city on the six reliefs at the top.
The sides of the arch were to be decorated with images of notable Kharkiv residents.
For a number of reasons, the project, much to our regret, was never carried out.
Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Felix Betliemsky for providing us with this exclusive material.
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