Sculptural composition "Children - victims of adult vices" - a rather rigid, but poignant monument, erected in the public garden on Bolotnaya Square in 2001. Since its installation, it has become one of the most famous and popular sculptural objects in Moscow.
The composition is dedicated to the influence of adult vices on the personality and life of children who are born completely pure, but then, getting into the adult world and finding themselves helpless in the face of its dangers, become their victims or grow up as vicious as their parents. The plot is conveyed with the help of 15 sculptures located on a large semicircular pedestal.
Children are depicted in the center of the composition - a little boy and a blindfolded girl; they sneak by touch with their hands out in front of them. Under their feet are books and a ball. The figures of children with all their appearance show that they need an intelligent guide, but he is not there - only those inherent in adults surround them. human vices. At the head of the vices, Indifference rises above the children, which tries its best to ignore what is happening.
A lot of symbolism has been invested in the figures of vices, they are the living embodiment of troubles and dangers awaiting children. In total, the sculpture depicts 13 vices:
1. Drug addiction;
2. Prostitution;
3. Theft;
4. Alcoholism;
5. Ignorance;
6. False learning;
7. Indifference;
8. Propaganda of violence;
9. Sadism;
10. "For those who are without memory" (pillory);
11. Exploitation of child labor;
12. Poverty;
13. War.
The author of the sculptures did a good job, putting a lot of symbolism into them: for example, Drug Addiction and War, which begin and close the circle of vices, are made in the form of angels of death - the first, dressed in a tailcoat, offers a syringe with a courteous gesture, the second is chained in armor and is preparing to release from hands an air bomb. Prostitution is depicted in the form of a vile toad, spreading its arms in an inviting gesture, and Ignorance is represented by a kind of joker donkey with a buffoon's staff, who, judging by the clock in his hand, does not feel the limits and spends time on insignificant trifles. Pseudo-scholarship is shown as a robed and hooded "guru" who preaches false knowledge, Alcoholism is a disgusting pot-bellied man sitting on a barrel, and Theft looks like a richly dressed pig, furtively moving aside with a small bag. Sadism demonstrates a rhinoceros-man, at the same time a butcher and an executioner, Poverty - a withered old woman, the sculpture "For those who are without memory" is made in the form of a pillory. A figure dedicated to promoting violence, with a deceitful smile, offers children wide selection weapons, and symbolizing the exploitation of child labor, is made in the form of a well-groomed raven, with imaginary benevolence inviting to its factory.
At the head of the vices eyes closed Indifference stands: he is given as many as 4 hands, with two of which he covers his ears, while the others are folded on his chest, standing in a characteristic protective pose. The figure tries its best to move away and not notice anything.
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"The sculptural composition "Children - Victims of Adult Vices" was conceived and implemented by me as a symbol and a call to fight for the salvation of today's and future generations. Long years affirmed and pathetically exclaimed: "Children are our future!" However, to enumerate the crimes of today's society against children, volumes would be needed. I, as an artist, call with this work to look around, to hear and see the sorrows and horrors that children experience today. And before it's too late, sane and honest people need to think. Do not be indifferent, fight, do everything to save the future of Russia." Mikhail Mikhailovich Shemyakin; |
The space around the composition is never empty: to look at it, whole crowds often gather. For some, "Children - Victims of Adult Vices" is approved, others, on the contrary, say that the composition is too harsh, and the sculptures of vices are simply terrible, and they need to be removed from sight - one way or another, no one remains indifferent. Having made a lot of noise in the past, the composition remains rather ambiguous even now, thanks to which it has not lost its popularity and has been considered one of the most significant informal sights of Moscow for the second decade.
Sculpture "Children - victims of adult vices" located in the park on Bolotnaya Square (Repinsky Square). It can be reached on foot from metro stations. "Kropotkinskaya" Sokolnicheskaya line, "Tretyakovskaya" Kaluga-Riga and "Novokuznetskaya" Zamoskvoretskaya.
July 4, 2014, 14:23 
The sculptural composition "Children - Victims of Adult Vices" on Bolotnaya Square was solemnly opened on City Day - September 2, 2001. It consists of 15 figures: two blindfolded children playing hide-and-seek are depicted surrounded by a host of three-meter allegorical monsters - creepy human figures with the heads of animals and fish. As the sculptor explained, this is how, according to the historically established tradition, it is customary to draw vices.
All 13 sculptures of vices are signed in Russian and English and are set in the following order: drug addiction, prostitution, theft, alcoholism, ignorance, irresponsible science, "indifference", "propaganda of violence", "sadism" (sadism), "for those without memory...", "exploitation of child labor" (child labor) , "poverty" (poverty), "war" (war).
The composition was conceived by the author, Mikhail Mikhailovich Shemyakin, as an allegory of the fight against world evil. Addressing future viewers, M.M. Shemyakin wrote: "The sculptural composition was conceived and implemented by me as a symbol and a call to the struggle for the salvation of today's and future generations. For many years it was affirmed and pathetically exclaimed:" Children are our future! ". However, to enumerate the crimes of today's society in front of children, one would need volumes. I, as an artist, call with this work to look around, to hear and see the sorrows and horrors that children experience today. And before it's too late, sane and honest people need to think. Do not be indifferent, fight, do everything to save the future of Russia ".
A boy and a girl are depicted in the center of the composition. preschool age moving to the touch blindfolded. Under their feet is a fallen book with fairy tales, and figures, symbols of the vices of adults, surround them in a semicircle - Drug addiction, Prostitution, Theft, Alcoholism, Ignorance, Pseudo-science (irresponsible science), Indifference (rises above the rest of the figures and is located in the center, occupying the central place among other vices in the composition), Propaganda of violence, Sadism, Pillory for those without memory, Exploitation of child labor, Poverty and War.
The monument was created on the initiative and order of the then Mayor of Moscow Yu.M. Luzhkov. There were references in the press that Luzhkov showed big interest to the course of Shemyakin's work on the monument, and even personally, suddenly jumping up from the table during a meeting with him, demonstrated to the sculptor his vision of the pose of one of the figures ("Sadism"), standing in the appropriate pose, which as a result remained in the metal.
Seeing the sketch, Luzhkov said that she lacked expression, and, running out from behind the desk, depicted, as Shemyakin put it, "the expression of a rhinoceros." I looked at the layout and realized that it was an allegorical figure "Sadism".
Sculptural composition "Children - victims of adult vices" - a rather rigid, but poignant monument, erected in the public garden on Bolotnaya Square in 2001. Since its installation, it has become one of the most famous and popular sculptural objects in Moscow.
The composition is dedicated to the influence of adult vices on the personality and life of children who are born completely pure, but then, getting into the adult world and finding themselves helpless in the face of its dangers, become their victims or grow up as vicious as their parents. The plot is conveyed with the help of 15 sculptures located on a large semicircular pedestal.
Children are depicted in the center of the composition - a little boy and a blindfolded girl; they sneak by touch with their hands out in front of them. Under their feet are books and a ball. The figures of children with all their appearance show that they need an intelligent guide, but he is not there - only human vices inherent in adults surround them. At the head of the vices, Indifference rises above the children, which tries its best to ignore what is happening.
A lot of symbolism has been invested in the figures of vices, they are the living embodiment of troubles and dangers awaiting children. In total, the sculpture depicts 13 vices:
1. Drug addiction;
2. Prostitution;
3. Theft;
4. Alcoholism;
5. Ignorance;
6. False learning;
7. Indifference;
8. Propaganda of violence;
9. Sadism;
10. "For those who are without memory" (pillory);
11. Exploitation of child labor;
12. Poverty;
13. War.
The author of the sculptures did a good job, putting a lot of symbolism into them: for example, Drug Addiction and War, which begin and close the circle of vices, are made in the form of angels of death - the first, dressed in a tailcoat, offers a syringe with a courteous gesture, the second is chained in armor and is preparing to release from hands an air bomb. Prostitution is depicted in the form of a vile toad, spreading its arms in an inviting gesture, and Ignorance is represented by a kind of joker donkey with a buffoon's staff, who, judging by the clock in his hand, does not feel the limits and spends time on insignificant trifles. Pseudo-scholarship is shown as a robed and hooded "guru" who preaches false knowledge, Alcoholism is a disgusting pot-bellied man sitting on a barrel, and Theft looks like a richly dressed pig, furtively moving aside with a small bag. Sadism demonstrates a rhinoceros-man, both a butcher and an executioner, Poverty - a withered old woman, the sculpture "For those who are without memory" is made in the form of a pillory. The figure dedicated to the propaganda of violence, with a false smile, offers children a wide choice of weapons, and symbolizing the exploitation of child labor, is made in the form of a sleek raven, with imaginary benevolence inviting them to their factory.
Indifference is at the head of vices with closed eyes: he is given as many as 4 hands, with two of which he closes his ears, while the others are folded on his chest, standing in a characteristic protective pose. The figure tries its best to move away and not notice anything.
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"The sculptural composition "Children - Victims of Adult Vices" was conceived and implemented by me as a symbol and a call to fight for the salvation of today's and future generations. For many years it was affirmed and pathetically exclaimed: "Children are our future!" However, to enumerate the crimes of today's society against children, volumes would be needed. I, as an artist, call on this work to look around, hear and see the sorrows and horrors that children experience today. And before it's too late, sane and honest people need to think. Do not be indifferent, fight, do everything to save the future of Russia." Mikhail Mikhailovich Shemyakin; |
The space around the composition is never empty: to look at it, whole crowds often gather. For some, "Children - Victims of Adult Vices" is approved, others, on the contrary, say that the composition is too harsh, and the sculptures of vices are simply terrible, and they need to be removed from sight - one way or another, no one remains indifferent. Having made a lot of noise in the past, the composition remains rather ambiguous even now, thanks to which it has not lost its popularity and has been considered one of the most significant informal sights of Moscow for the second decade.
Sculpture "Children - victims of adult vices" located in the park on Bolotnaya Square (Repinsky Square). It can be reached on foot from metro stations. "Kropotkinskaya" Sokolnicheskaya line, "Tretyakovskaya" Kaluga-Riga and "Novokuznetskaya" Zamoskvoretskaya.
Big, interesting and not very famous monument is located in the very center of Moscow, in the square on Bolotnaya Square. It is called "Children - victims of the vices of adults." Although a monument, in the classical sense of the word, it probably cannot be called. This whole sculptural composition, a whole story that cannot be told in a nutshell.
He appeared in the capital on September 2, 2001 on City Day. Its author is Mikhail Shemyakin. According to the artist, when he first conceived the composition, he wanted one thing - for people to think about saving today's and future generations. Many, by the way, at that time were against its installation near the Kremlin. They even assembled a special commission in the Duma of the capital, and she also spoke out against it. But the then mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, weighed everything and gave the go-ahead.
The monument really looks ambiguous and unusual. It is included in the top 10 most scandalous monuments in Moscow. The composition consists of 15 figures, two of which are small children - a boy and a girl of 10 years old. They are located in the very center. Like everyone at this age, they play ball, they have books of fairy tales under their feet. But the children are blindfolded, they do not see that 13 terrible tall figures are standing around, pulling their arms-tentacles towards them. Each statue personifies some kind of vice that can corrupt children's souls and take possession of them forever.
It is worth describing each in detail (from left to right):
- Addiction. A thin man in a tailcoat and bow tie, somewhat reminiscent of Count Dracula. A syringe in one hand and a bag of heroin in the other.
- Prostitution. This vice is represented in the form of a vile toad with bulging eyes, a deliberately elongated mouth and a magnificent bust. Her whole body is covered with warts, and snakes curl around her belt.
- Theft. A cunning pig that turned its back, obviously hiding something. She has a bag of money in one hand.
- Alcoholism. A fat, sugary, half-naked man sitting on a barrel of wine. In one hand he has a jug with something "hot", in the other a beer goblet.
- Ignorance. Cheerful and carefree donkey with a big rattle in his hands. A living illustration of the saying "the less you know, the better you sleep." True, here it is better to say "no knowledge, no problems."
- Pseudo-science. A woman (probably) in a monastic robe with her eyes closed. In one hand she holds a scroll of pseudo-knowledge. Nearby stands an incomprehensible mechanical device, and in the other hand, the result of the misapplication of science, is a two-headed dog, which is held like a puppet.
- Indifference.“Killers and traitors are not so terrible, they can only kill and betray. The worst thing is the indifferent. With their tacit consent, the worst things in this world happen.” Apparently, the author fully agrees with this saying. He placed "Indifference" at the very center of vices. The figure has four arms - two are crossed on the chest, and the other two plug their ears.
- Propaganda of violence. The figure resembles Pinocchio. Only he has a shield in his hand, which depicts a weapon, and next to it is a stack of books, one of which is Mein Kampf.
- Sadism. The thick-skinned rhinoceros is an excellent example of this vice, and he is also dressed in a butcher's outfit.
- Unconsciousness. The pillory is the only inanimate figure in the overall composition.
- Exploitation of child labor. Either an eagle or a raven. The bird-man invites everyone to the factory where children work.
- Poverty. A withered barefoot old woman with a staff holds out her hand, asking for alms.
- War. The last character in the list of vices. A man clad in armor and with gas masks on his face, holds out a toy to the children - everyone's favorite Mickey Mouse, but the mouse is clad in a bomb.
It is very difficult to unmistakably recognize a specific sin or vice in each figure, so the author signed each sculpture in Russian and English.
Initially, the monument was open permanently. But after lovers to profit from non-ferrous metal, they opened a hunt for him, the composition was fenced off, guards were put up and visiting hours were introduced from 9 am to 9 pm.
People often come to the park on Bolotnaya Square. The newlyweds are photographed against the backdrop of bizarre sculptures, without particularly attaching importance to the meaning hidden in the sculpture. Many people scold the composition, consider it ridiculous. Probably the most ardent opponent, Doctor of Psychology Vera Abramenkova. She believes that Mikhail Shemyakin erected a monument to gigantic vices, it is they, and not small children, who are the central characters. But most people treat the monument with understanding, they call it the right one, for the place and time. The sculptor raised a problem that should not be talked about, but shouted about. Only Shemyakin did this not with the help of words, the author immortalized his views and beliefs in bronze.
Monument to Mikhail Shemyakin "Children are victims of the vices of adults." Installed on Bolotnaya Square on September 02, 2001. The installation project for the sculptural composition was carried out by architects Vyacheslav Bukhaev and Andrey Efimov.
The sculptural composition includes: figures of children - a boy and a girl, who are frozen in motion blindfolded, at their feet are books: "Folk Russian Tales" and A.S. Pushkin "Tales", in a semicircle are figures that personify vices or evil modern world- drug addiction, prostitution, theft, alcoholism, ignorance, pseudoscience, indifference, propaganda of violence, sadism, an instrument of torture with the signature "for the memoryless ...", exploitation of child labor, poverty and war.
Here is what Mikhail Shemyakin himself said about the history of the creation of the monument:
“Luzhkov called me and said that he was instructing me to create such a monument. And he gave me a piece of paper on which the vices were listed. The order was unexpected and strange. Luzhkov stunned me. Firstly, I knew that the consciousness of a post-Soviet person was accustomed to urban sculptures obviously realistic. And when they say: "Depict the vice" child prostitution "or" sadism "(a total of 13 vices were named!), You have great doubts. At first I wanted to refuse, because I had a vague idea of how this composition could be brought to life And only six months later I came to the decision that only symbolic images can stand up with dignity in this exposition, so as not to offend the eyes of the audience.
The result is such a symbolic composition, where, for example, the vices of debauchery are depicted by a frog in a dress, the lack of education is depicted by a donkey dancing with a rattle. And so on. The only vice that I had to re-figure in symbolic form was drug addiction. Because before our “blessed time”, children never suffered from this vice. This vice in the form of a terrible angel of death, holding out an ampoule of heroin, stood up for me in this terrible gathering of vices.
This is one of my favorite sculptures in Moscow. You can argue as much as you like about how Shemyakin realized his plans, many even say that this is a monument not to children - victims of vices, but to the vices themselves, there were many disputes that such a "horror" should not be installed in the very center of Moscow, not far from the Kremlin and etc.
But, I believe that this sculptural composition is undoubtedly a talented work, the power of the author's idea, frankness and honesty, which not everyone wants to face, and therefore, in part, causing rejection. In addition, allegorical figures personifying vices accurately convey the emotions that these vices evoke. The only thing I do not agree with the author is that children are not born angels, they grow up, acquire a psyche, social norms and principles with age, and therefore it is very important that a truly adult is next to the children significant person, and if this is not the case, then the children grow, grow old, but do not grow up, and the very evil that surrounds us appears, so I would clarify the name of the sculpture: “Children are victims of the vices of immature adults.”
Year of installation: 2001
Sculptor: M. M. Shemyakin
Architects: V. B. Bukhaev, A. V. Efimov
Materials: bronze, metal, granite