Veliky Novgorod — a center of education. Novgorod region

One of the symbols of the Novgorod region is a lead dove on the dome of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Veliky Novgorod, representing peace, freedom and spirituality. According to a legend, during the massacre of Novgorodians by Ivan the Terrible in 1570, a dove sat on the cross of the temple and became petrified with fear. Afterwards, the Mother of God appeared to one of the monks in a dream, saying that until the bird flies from the cross, Novgorod will be protected.

Veliky Novgorod is an ancient center of literacy and writing. That is why birch bark letters are another symbol of the region. The first such letters were found in 1951 at the Nerevsky excavation site. To honour this date, in 2019 a sculpture of a boy named Onfim, who lived in the 13th century and was the author of some birch bark letters and drawings, was installed in the city. To date, more than a thousand birch bark letters have been found in the Novgorod region.

In the center of the Novgorod region’s landscape installation there is a sculpture that combines the two bright and significant symbols into a common plot. The first one is a birch bark scroll made of metal and containing the texts of several ancient messages. And the second one is carrier pigeons, located next to the scroll. According to the author’s idea, they have just brought these messages. A polygonal shape and coloring of the bird sculptures make the entire composition very special. Unusual and modern, they emphasise the continuity and actuality of traditions in the present and future. Light, bright and life-affirming shades were chosen as the color scheme of the floristic component. And the plant landscape repeats and compositionally complements the central sculpture.