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frameacloudTrigger warnings for this article: rejection of a work of art, "Christian values." Work-safe.
Last October, a bronze statue was installed in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. It’s atop a fountain, in front of a swimming complex. The statue depicts a loving pair of dragons, standing on their hind legs, gently handing a golden egg from the one to the other. They were sculpted by Eugene Ivanov (Евгений Иванов).
Although their attitude is peaceful and charming, controversy arose around them because they’re such an atypical portrayal of dragons in public art. Being accustomed to dragons being used strictly as a symbol of evil, some residents of Varna—the committee of Orthodox values—organized a petition for the removal of the statue, claiming that it’s a desecration of Christian values.
In my opinion, it’s a pleasing and skillfully made statue, although I don’t know what legend goes with it, if any. If Varna doesn’t keep it, I hope they send it to a nice artistic town, someplace multicultural, where the residents are more familiar with legends of benevolent dragons.
I haven’t been successful in finding the title of the statue, a site for the artist, or any additional news articles. It’s probably out there, but it’s in Bulgarian. I'd appreciate any help.
- O. Scribner
Sources
Video of statue from various angles, and news article source for the text (in Bulgarian).
Still photo and source for artist's name.
Last October, a bronze statue was installed in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. It’s atop a fountain, in front of a swimming complex. The statue depicts a loving pair of dragons, standing on their hind legs, gently handing a golden egg from the one to the other. They were sculpted by Eugene Ivanov (Евгений Иванов).
Although their attitude is peaceful and charming, controversy arose around them because they’re such an atypical portrayal of dragons in public art. Being accustomed to dragons being used strictly as a symbol of evil, some residents of Varna—the committee of Orthodox values—organized a petition for the removal of the statue, claiming that it’s a desecration of Christian values.
In my opinion, it’s a pleasing and skillfully made statue, although I don’t know what legend goes with it, if any. If Varna doesn’t keep it, I hope they send it to a nice artistic town, someplace multicultural, where the residents are more familiar with legends of benevolent dragons.
I haven’t been successful in finding the title of the statue, a site for the artist, or any additional news articles. It’s probably out there, but it’s in Bulgarian. I'd appreciate any help.
- O. Scribner
Video of statue from various angles, and news article source for the text (in Bulgarian).
Still photo and source for artist's name.
