One can argue about what happiness is infinitely long, and most interestingly, all versions will be true. This concept does not have a single exact definition. Meanwhile, the monument to Happiness recently appeared in the city of Tomsk. What does this monument look like and what is the main idea of its creation?
Legendary cartoon
In 1982, Soyuzmultfilm studio pleased the audience with its new creation. “Once upon a time there was a dog” is the name of this legendary cartoon, on which more than one generation of citizens of our country has grown up. The director of the animated film is Eduard Nazarov, the roles were voiced by Armen Dzhigarkhanyan and Georgy Burkov. If you suddenly forgot the plot of this famous cartoon, we remind you - it tells about the friendship and mutual assistance of a dog and a wolf. These two animals are enemies, the task of the domestic dog is to drive away wild predators. The wolf is the master of the forest. He wants to profit from farm animals and without hesitation enters into a fight with a dog tamed by man. However, in a difficult life situation, the wolf and the dog begin to help each other. The story is good and instructive, but what does the monument to Happiness have to do with it? The thing is that this is what the people call the bronze statue of a wolf from the animated film "Once upon a time there was a dog."
The idea of creating an unusual monument
The main sponsor of the project was the company Tomlesstroy OJSC. It was by her order that the sculpture was made and installed. The Monument to Happiness was unveiled for the 400th anniversary of the city (autumn 2005). The composition was attended by: artist-consultant Leonty Usov and caster Maxim Petrov. The site for the installation of the monument was chosen especially carefully, and as a result, it was possible to find a suitable site - one of the most popular squares in the center for residents and guests. The sculpture was welcomed by the public positively; today it is included in the list of the most original and interesting sights of Tomsk.
Monument to Happiness (Tomsk): description
The bronze figure of the wolf is located on a low pedestal lined with granite slabs. The sculpture depicts a cartoon character at the climax. According to the plot of the cartoon, the wolf sneaked under the wedding table and heartily ate various delicacies, after which he uttered his legendary phrase: “I’ll sing right now!” By a relaxed posture and a convex belly of the sculpture, it is not difficult to recognize and remember this moment. But if someone still had doubts, a sign with the inscription “I'll sing right now!” Flaunts on the pedestal. This is the correct name of the monument, however, the people know it as a monument to Happiness. Such an inscription on the pedestal is also present.
Interesting facts about the "happy" monument
Decorating the city with a bright and positive sculpture to its authors seemed insufficient. If you pat the wolf on his stomach, he will tell you: “I’ll sing right now!”, “God help you!” or another catch phrase from the cartoon. Of course, in the original dubbing - the voice of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan. In total, the monument to Happiness (Tomsk) “knows” 8 different phrases from the film. Initially, it was also planned to mount a webcam in the sculpture and please every passer-by with an individual appeal, but later this idea was abandoned. According to information from various sources, the sculpture’s electronics break down from time to time and become a victim of the hands of vandals. Monument to Happiness was so liked by the residents of Tomsk and neighboring cities that it was decided to create copies. Similar monuments appeared in Angarsk (2007) and in Krasnoyarsk (2008). But, despite the fact that today in our country there are only three monuments, “Right now I will sing”, the most famous is the first one installed in Tomsk.
The idea of sculptural composition
What does the “happy” monument call for? Really overeating from the heart? Of course, no, according to the creators, the sculpture should remind us that we should be kinder to each other. Responsiveness and mutual assistance - this is exactly what modern people lack. The creators of the sculpture hope that the city with the monument to Happiness will become kinder. And indeed, sometimes it’s just some simple everyday things that create the mood. Happiness has a lot of shades, but they invariably include: delicious food, satiety, the ability to get enough sleep, and other physiological needs. It turns out that the monument "I'll sing right now!" reminds the townspeople immediately about how to be happy and teaches to be kinder to each other. The locals really like the sculpture, and all tourists come to see it. The monument is photographed, there are always many children around it. It is not surprising that the stomach of the cartoon wolf differs in color from the rest of the parts and is always polished with touches of a huge number of tourists hands. To see with my own eyes the monument Happiness “Right now I will sing!” It is possible at the address: Shevchenko street, 19/1. The sculpture is installed in the city square near the shopping center. If you manage to visit this monument, do not forget to stroke it on the stomach.