#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The monument, erected in 1954, will be sent for restoration to Balashiha in the Moscow region.
Svetlana Sedova, a city council deputy and first secretary of the city committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, emphasized the monument’s historical significance for the city. The issue of restoring the monument has been raised for many years, but for a number of objective reasons, the monument was sent for ‘cosmetic repairs’ only this year, the deputy noted.
“This monument is not just a landmark, but an important part of the Norilsk formation’s history. For many city residents, it remains a symbol; people come to lay flowers at it on holidays. Despite all the changes that have occurred over the years, the Lenin’s figure retains its significance for Norilsk residents. I am grateful to the municipality for its assistance in organizing the restoration work. This will help preserve an important part of our history for future generations”, Svetlana Sedova shared.
The restoration will help preserve the monument, which has turned 70 this year, and return it to its original appearance, the Norilsk city council reported.
Let us recall that on January 21, 1954, the monument to Vladimir Lenin was erected in Norilsk on the main city square – at that time it was Octyabrskaya square. Now this date means nothing to us. But on that day everyone knew: it was 30 years since the revolution leader death.
The reinforced concrete sculpture was a copy of the work by Sergey Merkurov. The original, 37 meters high and weighing 450 tons, stands in the city of Dubna, at the entrance to the Moscow canal. A copy for Norilsk was made at the Moscow Art Fund. Then the monument was dismantled into four parts, packed in boxes and sent to our city. Here it was mounted by the Norilsk sculptor Zhiltsov, and the monument was inscribed into the square space by the famous architects Nepokoichitsky and Minenko.
Earlier, This Is Taimyr wrote that at least three monuments to Lenin stood in the city in different years.
Follow us on Telegram, VKontakte.
Text: Maria Sokolova, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
