Israeli sculpture parks of Angels, Sounds, and Sensations can now also be seen in Vitebsk

An Israeli Culture Day was held in Vitebsk. The event was organized by the Israeli Cultural Center at the Embassy of Israel in Belarus, which has been cooperating with Vitebsk for a long time and implements numerous cultural and educational projects here.

The program was rich and primarily aimed at the younger generation. "Israel is a festival for youth" - this was the theme of the lecture by the first secretary of the embassy, Anna Keinan, which she delivered to students of Vitebsk State University named after P. Masherov. An exhibition of Israeli literature was presented at the M. Gorky Central City Library, and literary readings were held dedicated to the writer Meir Shalev, whom critics call the Israeli Marquez.

And at the Mark Chagall Art Center, a photo exhibition of sculptures by Ruslan Sergeev "Design of Landscape Moods" opened. Ruslan is one of the leading sculptors in Israel. He was born and lived in Minsk, and in 1996 opened a landscape sculpture design studio in Jerusalem, achieving great recognition. Today, over 80 large-scale works by Ruslan Sergeev adorn the streets, museums, galleries, and private collections of Russia, the USA, England, and Germany. In Israel, he created 6 thematic sculpture parks: Sounds, Sensations, Science, Angels, etc., and populated them with unusual animals that function as attractions, slides, and sports equipment. The sculptures in the Angels Park are designed for children with disabilities.

The materials for the artist's imagination are concrete, metal, mosaic, and glass. The artist integrates his sculptures into the urban landscape, bringing romantic colors to urban canvases. According to Ruslan Sergeev, he was inspired by Antoni Gaudí, the creator of the Park Güell architectural ensemble in Barcelona and other works included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A work by the great Spaniard he saw once – a concrete crocodile covered in colorful ceramic tiles – captivated the Israeli sculptor and determined the direction of his creative work.

The exhibition in Vitebsk features photographs and models of sculptures; they can be seen in person in the cities of Israel, which one wants to visit even more after an acquaintance with the culture of this ancient land.

Tatyana Pasternak, "Vitebskiye Vesti"