'Monster' design upsets Yeltsins

Kavargi's design is meant to be executed in black metal

Boris Yeltsin's family has frowned upon a design for an unofficial monument to the late Russian leader dubbed the "biomorphic black monster".

In a letter carried by Russian media, Yeltsin's daughter Tatyana said the family would object to the erection of the black metal memorial.

Sculptor Dmitri Kavargi's design topped an internet poll conducted by art4.ru, an avant-garde modern art museum.

The museum is said to be seeking permission to install it in Moscow.

Yeltsin, who played a key role in the Soviet Union's demise and became Russia's first president, died of heart failure aged 76 on 23 April.

Lubyanka site?

In notes attached to a picture of Kavargi's design, which took 2,924 votes in the poll, the museum writes:

This is a monument to the destruction and disintegration... without which new creation is absolutely impossible art4.ru notes on Kavargi's design

"This is a monument to the destruction and disintegration... without which new creation is absolutely impossible.

"It is customary to record in the memory the formation or destruction of the latest illusion with the leader's name. Boris Yeltsin accomplished his role with distinction..."

Museum director Igor Markin, who used the term "biomorphic black monster", said the design was the most radical of those submitted.

The Yeltsin family, his daughter Tatyana Yumasheva stressed, had no involvement in the competition.

"We would object if the issue were raised of erecting a monument like this anywhere," she wrote in excerpts from her letter published by Russian news agency Ria-Novosti.

The museum is believed to be seeking permission from Moscow's city authorities to erect the memorial on Lubyanka Square, home of Russia's secret police since Soviet times.

Recent new monuments in the Russian capital have tended towards traditional forms.

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Your ideas for a memorial to Boris Yeltsin:

a modern/contemporary modern for a political figure of such status is unheard to their family. I do not see anything wrong with a contemporary sculpture, being an art historian i think it's great, however akins would not feel that comfortable, they would prefer a rather 'ordinary' sculpture. From what one can see from this picture or actually cannot see is that it is too dark and too dense. russian constructivists are great and a great example as to contemporary momuments, so i would suggest something less dense airy, easy followed lines so that people can feel a lighter structure is in front of them.
christos koumides, nicosia, cyprus

There is a huge discussion inside the Russian society about this monument. In my personal view the monument which was offered by art4.ru is absolutely unacceptable. We need grate old-fashioned statue to be erected near the Rusiian White House, the place of 1993 events.
Pavel Serebryakov, Moscow, Russia

As an English man living in Yalta, I have to give my thanks to Boris Yeltsin, for I would not enjoy the beauty of the Crimea without his deeds. So it would be fitting that a Monument to a great man should be as significant of that as Lenin, and should be a life sized , and well dignified.
Stephen John McAthey, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine.

He took a wealthy country into poverty. He turned the blind eye on the sell off of all the government-based assets for pennies on a dollar. Does he deserve a monument? The black destruction monster fits him well. A drunken farmer that destroyed millions of lives.
Saveli K, Montreal, Canada

Yes, a large, thick Mr. Pencil Eraser Head, one of those pink American ones, like Boris' boozey blush, with little bite mark eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth, memorializing how he rubbed out the Soviet Union. And maybe a little white lint on top.
Scott A. Thomas, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

They should have him standing next to a statue of Homer Simpson. Both of them could have a bottle of Duff beer in their and could be sort of trying to help each other stay upright. Well its better than that rubbish 'black monster' thing theyve made. No?
D. Obridge, Belm germany

A public vodka fountain... The Son of the Grumpy Old Man BBC News website reader

I think this monument is simply perfect, because it shows the state of devastation in which Russia unfortunately was in Yeltsin's time.
Rinat, Ufa

A public vodka fountain either though not acceptable, would be more pleasing to the eye than this piece of scrap-metal!
The Son of the Grumpy Old Man

I think the statue is a great symbol of the need for the breaking of a system before it can be renewed, but....

Boris Yeltsin road the coattails of a man who can surely be considered great, Mikhail Gorbachev... Why not a statue of Gorbachev instead. Leave the also-ran's name out of it.
Mike Blackburn, Aberdeen, Scotland

Superb!! It's not supposed to be a likeness!!It's more a monument to the events of the past in which he took an active part and I like the "destruction and disintegration leading to creation" concept. Yeltsin was the chief architect in that respect. Give the monument pride of place in Moscow!
Paul Moore, Ballymena, NI

I'm in no place to judge whether that piece is truly representative of Yeltsin's term in public service, but I do have to say it's a truly stunning work...
Andrew Good, San Clemente, CA, US

The work of art to me exemplify the lone warrior standing upright under blue sky and pointing at silver lining.This is a tribute to the destroyer with a dream.
Dipak Dhungel, Kathmandu, Nepal

A huge glass Vodka bottle with a life-sized wax-work Yeltsin trapped inside, a bit like one of those ship-in-bottle ornaments, but with the man himself instead of the model ship.
Christopher Sawtell, Christchurch, NZ

say what you like about yeltsin, his real monument are the 15 independent states that arose from the ashes of the soviet union
will, tbilisi georgia

I'd rather see a memorial to Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mysturji, UK

Any sculpture is better than none. We could do with some here in Australia. Oh, I forgot; We have those golden arched big M's scattered along the express-ways.
Gerard Oosterman, Brayton NSW. Australia

How about a Matrioshka doll statue symbolising Russia under Yeltsin. Enormous and strong, then smaller and much weaker, then strengthening again if still not so huge.
Justin, Moscow, Russia

Like all modern conceptual art design, sometimes it looks great at first, but 20 years down the line it becomes a monster of past (An eye sore) that will lose its taste. These designers with modern ideas, have little no term imagination, so nothing like this will become a classic, just think if an archeologist found this in 1,000 years, they would not have a clue what this status represents or any other of this modern art. On a final note this design is awful to start with.
Gary, Leeds

What about no memorial at all. Give the money to a hungary child?
M Moosa, Gloucester UK

There should be no monuments or other tributes paid to those who set out to destroy what was a strong country and the answer to American world domination aspirations. Erect a statue to Joseph Stalin instead. T L Yorks
Thomas Lowry, Leeds UK

How about a stature of yeltsin watching over the poor old people here in Russia who lost all their savings in the financial crisis, with all the oligarch living in exile watching from behind
Andrew Sherlock, Moscow

I agree with the vodka bottle scenario but, perhaps, place a statue of Mr Yeltsin alongside easy-going crooner Dean Martin. That way we can celebrate the life of two comedians in one memorial !!!
Shaun Crowther, Barnoldswick, UK

...Perhaps a large half-empty bottle of Vodka would be best - reflecting his love of life and unplanned optimism about the future
Crispin Bates, Edinburgh, UK

The best monument to the first Russian president is Saint Petersburg instead of Leningrad, Ekaterinburg instead of Sverdlovsk, and a light wind of FREEDOM. I can thank this man because he made my country free. And my parents could breath in smell of liberty. The taste,wich I,living in posteltsin Russia, don't know.
George , Moscow

It would have to be a very human-like memorial, underscoring his uncompromising character, like the one to Vladimir Vysockij in Ekaterinburg. A man of incredible will power, morals, always addressing every single person down to the last janitor by "vy" and name-patronymic... That can't be portrayed through these recent waves of avant-garde.
Andrej Kovalev, Washington, DC, US

The only monument should be Yeltsin standing on a tank. Transitions of power like USSR to Russia as it now is goes often through a period of chaos. Yeltsin send the USSR to history en started to build e new Russia. With a lot of problems but he did.
Henk , Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Anamatronic figure of Boris dancing during the election campaign, as seen in news footage. preemptively... dancing on his own grave 1st, so no one else would?
robert clark, Astotia OR. US

An empty bottle of vodka is the only fitting memorial for this drunken thief and buffoon.
Chupo Concha, UK

It's stunning and will become a landmark if it is ever erected. The concept is a creative one. A boring statue would have done little more than collect pigeon excrement. This will at least keep his name alive
martin searle, Bangkok, Thailand

Build a statue Boris Yeltsin standing on Kavargi's wreckage and reaching down taking Russia by the hand and pulling her free. Show him with his sleeves rolled up in good health before the trauma of the last days of the USSR. Boris Yeltsin stepped into an abyss and wrestled Russia from collapse and chaos. He then groomed his successor, who still guides Russia with the genuine approval of the people, then he stepped down. The world still makes light of the common man who achieved uncommon results, and its sadly his peers that laugh the loudest. I had no love for the Soviets, but Yeltsin deserves respect.
Steven Palubinski, Afghanistan

His likeness floating in a vodka bottle.
Onyango, temple,usa

How about an exploding bomb, to symbolise the breakup of the Soviet Union? In his deteriorating years, he ruined a perfectly viable economic bloc.
F Sinatra, Versailles, France