Stanislav Lazebnyk
Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Laureate of Volodymyr Vynnychenko International Literary and Art Prize
DOI https://doi.org/10.37837/2707-7683-2018-46
Abstract. The article analyses the monumental immortalization of the Ukrainian giant of the word, national prophet Taras Shevchenko. Kobzar settled for ever in granite and bronze or marble dresses on the European, American and Asian continents, even in Australia. Today Shevchenko is a beloved figure in the foreign Ukrainian community and among the natives of different countries.
Our Kobzar is among the top ten figures in regards to the scale of monumental immortalization in other states. Monuments to Taras Shevchenko abroad were erected mainly on the initiative and at the expense of Ukrainian communities. Large number of poet’s monuments in different countries have appeared with the assistance of domestic diplomats. The major part of authors of Taras’s sculptures donated to foreign countries are Ukrainian artists. Each occurrence of Kobzar’s figure in squares or parks all over the world was a particular piece of news for newspaper articles.
In Soviet times, the development of Shevchenko’s monumental art abroad was contributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, Ukrainian diplomats at international organizations, and Ukrainian non-governmental organizations. This activity was carried out under the conditions of political confrontations of that time. During the years of Ukraine’s independence, Ukrainian embassies were the one to encourage further enrichment of the world monumental masterpieces embodying Taras Shevchenko and the expansion of their geography.
The author of the article outlines the important role of Kobzar’s figure eternalized in bronze and marble for Ukrainians in distant lands. Near them, they longingly think about Ukraine, their own destiny and reciprocal future with a special feeling of heart clenching.
Keywords: monumental immortalization, sculpture, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian diplo-mats, non-governmental organizations.
References
1. Bazhan, O., Reient, O., Tronko, P. (eds). Na skryzhaliakh istorii: z istorii vzaiemozviazkiv uriadovykh struktur i hromadskykh kil Ukrainy z ukrainskokanadskoiu hromadoiu v druhii polovyni 1940-kh-1980-kh rr. (2003). Kyiv: Nats. akad. nauk Ukrainy, In-t istorii Ukrainy, Fundatsiia ukrainskoi spadshchyny Alberty (Kanada), Istoryko-arkhivne upravlinnia M-va zakordonnykh sprav Ukrainy, Tsentralnyi derzh. arkhiv hromadskykh obiednan Ukrainy, Tsentralnyi derzh. arkhiv-muzei literatury i mystetstva Ukrainy, Tsentralnyi derzh. arkhiv vyshchykh orhaniv vlady i upravlinnia Ukrainy, p. 155. [in Ukrainian]
2. Kravchuk, P. (1958). Na novii zemli. Toronto, pp. 344-350. [in Ukrainian]
3. Chornyi, V. (2013). ‘“Borotba statui”. Piat prezydentiv SShA i ukrainskyi Kobzar’, Dzerkalo tyzhnia, p. 15. [in Ukrainian]
4. Lazebnyk, S. (2016). Liudy ukrainskoho zakordonnia. Kyiv, pp. 83, 90. [in Ukrainian]
5. Makarevych, M. (2015). Storinky moho zhyttia. Kyiv, p. 234. [in Ukrainian]