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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Should there be Independence monuments in regional centers? What should they look like?

Ternopil’s authorities gave a positive answer. Opinions of local residents divided
20 March, 2012 - 00:00
Photo courtesy of press service of Ternopil City Council

Contest for the best project of the monument to Independence of Ukraine just finished in Ternopil. The monument will be installed in the regional center near the Theater Square. Drawings and models of sculptors and architects from Ternopil, Lviv, Khmelnytsky, and Kyiv were presented to the residents of the city in Ternopil Art Gallery of the Ukraine’s National Union of Artists in August 2011. Visitors had a chance to express their opinion about the projects in the book of reviews and suggestions. According to the results of the citizens’ voting and decision made by a qualified jury, sculpture made by Ternopil artists Ivan Sonsiadlo and Danylo Chepil was chosen to be the winner. Thus, a woman figure holding a stork above her head will symbolize Ukraine in Ternopil. The bird with its wings spread wide resembles the trident. The sculpture is three meters high and together with the vertical column-pedestal it will reach 11 meters. “Woman is holding a stork not by chance because this bird has been the symbol of our land ever since the Trypillian culture,” stressed architect Danylo Chepil during the presentation. Mayor Serhii Nadal said that the monument will be installed by means of public building and it is planned to open the monument on the 21st anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence. “The idea of a monument to Independence in Ternopil appeared among the deputies of first democratic convocation; it was then that they made the decision about its construction. We hope that nobody will stand aside and everyone will make possible contribution into the construction of a monument to fighters for national revival,” he said. Ternopil city authorities hope that political parties will join this initiative in the pre-election time. A box for fundraising has recently been installed in the Peremoha Ukrainian House. The event is actively discussed in the Internet and in the city. However, opinion of Ternopil residents on the need for another monument divided. Some think that city really needs it but it better be installed in a different place, others say that there are already too many monuments in Ternopil and it soon will be called a city of monuments, while it has lost its status of the greenest and most flourishing city in Ukraine. Thus, it would be better to take care about landscaping, to purchase new attractions for children, or simply use the money for other more urgent needs.

Svitlana LAZORYK, editor of the Ternopil regional state TV and radio company:

“Perhaps, one monument standing in the Independent Square in the capital of Ukraine should be enough. In general independence has a much deeper meaning and, in my opinion, it does not have to be necessarily represented in some kind of a sculpture. For example, monuments to Taras Shevchenko and Solomia Krushelnytska in Ternopil already symbolize in a way Ukraine’s Independence. Thus, basically, there is no need for such a monument in our city. And even if there will be a million hryvnias raised for its installation the money should be better given for the needs of sick children. Perhaps, it would save somebody’s life. And in general I think there are enough monuments in Ternopil already and all of this is done for the sake of PR.”

Anna PALII, Ternopil-based poetess:

“I think that the monument to Independence should be set up because we fought for it for centuries. This is a very important monument for every Ukrainian, including residents of Ternopil, and it should be fixed in some tangible form. However, it should be noted that independence should be taken not simply as an official legal act but as an inner independence of everyone from inner and outer negative factors. Here we speak about the spiritual basis of freedom as such. I have recently been to Kharkiv and there I was surprised that in the central square, the biggest in Europe they say, there is a monument to the leader of October revolution Vladimir Lenin. I have an impression that not all of Ukraine’s regions have become aware of the independence of our country. In my opinion, that is exactly the place for the monument to Independence. Maybe construction of such monument is not the most urgent issue for Ternopil at the present moment but I still think it is a good initiative. However, if to consider the situation with Lviv Boulevard in front of the Opera Theater with many monuments on it, all of those monuments are relevant and meet the spiritual needs of Lviv citizens and the architectural design. What concerns the boulevard in front of Ternopil Academic Drama Theater, where the sculpture is planned to be installed, I think that another monument will only burden it because our boulevard is not as big and the monument to Solomia Krushelnytska is already its dominant. We also have to take into account the fountains there. And there is the monument to Taras Shevchenko right by the Theater. As a professional architect I think it would be more reasonable to install the monument in a more spacious place.”

By Larysa OSADCHUK, Ternopil
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