Plants to Replace the Statue of Lenin in Kyiv City Centre

The work of Mexican artist, Isa Carrillo has a won the competition to fill the spot which the statue of Lenin once occupied in Kyiv. The piece is entitled ‘Ritual of Nature’.

The monument to the Soviet Union’s founding father was famously toppled by protesters during the Euromaidan protests in 2013. This became a symbol of the uprising, triggering similar acts up and down the country.

According to Cultprostir, the art project will be in place from 3-17th May.

Work of Mexican artist, Isa Carrillo ‘Ritual of Nature http://cultprostir.ua

In her project, ‘Ritual of Nature’, Isa Carrillo draws upon the complete strength of nature. Live rosemary will decorate the pedestal on which Lenin once stood.

In this way, the creator of this installation seeks to neutralise the ideological tension that surrounds the vacant spot, and invites locals to come and meditate there.

“I see my project as an effort to heal the empty plinth, and I am very grateful to the Ukrainians who voted for me and have allowed me to contribute to the ‘Social Agreement’ initiative”, she said.

Anyone could take part in the selection process by voting for the art-project they liked the most.

Isa Carrillo received 38.5% of the votes for ‘Ritual of Nature’, just beating the Ukrainian artist Mykyta Shalenyy and his project entitled ‘Heroes Don’t Exist’.

Third and fourth place were awarded respectively to the projects ‘I need a hero’ by Serbian artist Milena Vuckovic, and ‘De Pedestal’ by the Italian duet Afterall. The competition was organised by the ‘IZOLIATSIA’ art-fund.