Viktor Tsoi is an outstanding Soviet-era rock musician whose songs have not lost their relevance for several decades. This is hard to believe: today, more than 25 years after the tragic death of the leader of the Kino group, many people not only remember him, but also confidently call them their favorite music artist. In many cities of our country there are sculptures dedicated to this musician. What is the most interesting and famous monument to Viktor Tsoi?
Memorials in St. Petersburg
V. Tsoi was buried on August 19, 1990 in St. Petersburg at the Theological Cemetery. At the grave of the great musician there is a laconic tombstone. This is a medium-sized stele crowned with a sculptural bas-relief depicting Victor's profile. The grave of the leader of the Kino group is a special place for fans of his talent. People from all over the country come here to the Theological Cemetery in order to pay tribute to their idol. According to eyewitnesses, even today near the grave of Tsoi you can always meet his fans.
Another iconic place in St. Petersburg is the club-museum Kamchatka Boiler House. Victor once worked as a fireman here. Today at the address: St. Petersburg, st. Blokhin, house 15 is the musician’s museum, where concerts are held from time to time. On the facade of the building is a standard memorial tablet and a small monument to Viktor Tsoi. This is a bas-relief depicting the head of a musician and an acoustic guitar.
Viktor Tsoi on a motorcycle (St. Petersburg, Okulovka)
The most famous and scandalous monument to Viktor Tsoi was created by the sculptor Alexey Blagovestnov. The sculpture project was created as a thesis at the end of the master of Moscow State Art Institute. V.I. Surikova. The monument looks rather unusual: Viktor Tsoy with glasses and rolled up sleeves sits on a Java motorcycle. The “iron horse” has a broken headlight, and the musician himself is depicted barefoot. The sculpture took first place in the competition of young artists named after P. M. Tretyakov, held by the Tretyakov Art Gallery in 2004. This monument to Viktor Tsoi was exhibited in Moscow and Khanty-Mansiysk, and in 2009 it was brought to St. Petersburg and installed near the Aurora movie theater. However, the installation of the monument was not agreed with the city authorities, and for this reason it soon had to be removed.
Initially, it was planned to arrange a “tour” for this monument by V. Tsoi - to exhibit it for specific periods in different cities of Russia. This idea remained unrealized, and only in 2015, the sculptural composition found its permanent residence in the city of Okulovka, Nizhny Novgorod Region.
How many monuments of V. Tsoi are there in Russia ?
In addition to official sculptures, there are also informal monuments to the leader of the Kino group in our country. The most famous among them is the “Viktor Tsoi Wall in Moscow”. If you believe the legend, one of the fans of the great musician, learning about the death of an idol, simply wrote in a fit of despair on the facade of house 37 on Stary Arbat Street, the phrase: "Choi is alive." Gradually, the entire wall was covered with quotes from songs, drawings and declarations of love to Viktor Tsoi. Grieving musician fans gathered here, spontaneous concerts were held. This place of worship has repeatedly suffered from vandals, and residents of neighboring houses have repeatedly complained about noisy gatherings.
To date, this work of folk art cannot receive the status of a monument. Moscow deputies explain their refusals by the fact that any object can be recognized as historical only 40 years after the event with which it is associated. Similar "walls of Tsoi" after the death of a musician appeared in many cities of Russia. Most of them have long been painted over and forgotten, but the Moscow facade still continues to struggle for its existence.
Monuments by V. Tsoi in Barnaul and Latvia
A beautiful and original monument dedicated to V. Tsoi was erected in the city of Barnaul. The monument was unveiled in 2010. This is a stele, in the upper part of which there is a sculpture depicting a musician waist-high. The leader of the Kino group holds a guitar in his hand, a character familiar to every fan complements the composition - half the Tsoev sun. According to many, this monument is largely reminiscent of the monument to Viktor Tsoi in St. Petersburg, installed in the cemetery.
Another memorial dedicated to the cult musician was erected in Latvia, not far from the place of his tragic death. V. Tsoi died in a car accident that occurred on the 35th kilometer of the Sloka-Talsi highway. For many years, fans of Viktor came to this place, but only in 2002 a monument appeared here. A short distance from the road appeared a stele crowned with a sculpture of a musician. V. Tsoi is depicted waist-high, hugging himself with his hands. On the pedestal you can read the lines from the song: “Death is worth living, and love is worth waiting ...”
Will new monuments be erected in Moscow and St. Petersburg?
Fans of V. Tsoi and various organizations sent official requests many times with requests to allow the installation of monuments dedicated to the idol. Almost every year in the press there are reports that a monument to Viktor Tsoi will be erected in Moscow or St. Petersburg very soon. And yet, for some reason, things do not go beyond projects. Authorities are asking "a little more" to wait and are reminded that at least 30-40 years must pass from the moment of the death of a historical figure.
Discontent is often expressed by residents of cities in which the installation of monuments is planned. Some people believe that such a sculpture can attract fans of the musician - informal noisy youth, and for this reason they doubt the need to create such a monument. Most likely, they simply do not know that there is a positive example: we recall the monument to Viktor Tsoi in Okulovka. The sculpture stands in a busy location, not far from the local train station. The monument is liked by residents and guests of the city, many are photographed with it or viewed with interest.