Monuments to T. H. Shevchenko. Do Not Forget to Remember Him with a Kindly, Quiet Word

From our school lessons we remember the dates tied to the life and work of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko. 1814 — 1861 — these are the 47 years of the life's journey of a great poet, playwright, artist and public figure, at the dawn of industrial development in Ukraine and of the peasant movement against serfdom. Shevchenko spent 24 years in serfdom and 10 years in exile. There is a number that grows year by year — the number of monuments and memorial markers raised in honour of the national poet.

 

Ternopil. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1982. Sculptors M. Neveselyi and S. Kalashnyk

According to the data of the National Taras Shevchenko Museum in Kyiv there are 1384 monuments in the world to the universally recognised leader of Ukraine's national revival; of these, 1256 were erected in our own state and 128 in 35 countries. The Book of Records of Ukraine has noted that 1167 monuments to Taras Shevchenko have been set up around the world. Of these, 99 are in 44 foreign countries and 1068 in Ukraine. This is a record number of monuments unveiled to figures of culture, and if we set aside the leaders of the totalitarian regime, then this figure is the largest number of monuments raised in honour of famous individuals.

 

Ivano-Frankivsk. Bust of the Kobzar in the Shevchenko park. 1951

Ivano-Frankivsk. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2011. Sculptor L. Molodozhanyn

In every regional capital of Ukraine, on the central squares and streets, rise true masterpieces of monumental art. The pedestals and monuments to this outstanding master of the word and of the fine arts were made by highly professional artists chosen through open competitions.

Lviv

Dnipro. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1959. Sculptor I. S. Znoba

Cherkasy. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1976. Sculptors M. K. Vronskyi and A. P. Oliinyk

Poltava. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1926. Sculptor I. Kavaleridze

Rivne. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1999. Sculptor P. Podolets

Zhytomyr. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 1976. Sculptor B. M. Kardovskyi

Chernihiv. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1992. Sculptor V. A. Chepelyk

Donetsk. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1955. Sculptors M. K. Vronskyi and O. P. Oliinyk

Sumy. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1957. Sculptor Ya. D. Krasnozhon

The finest designs by renowned sculptors and architects have become the calling cards of our cities and a source of pride for Ukrainians. Beside the monuments to the legendary genius, festive events, gatherings and rallies are held.

Mykolaiv, Lviv region. 

Lviv. Monument to the Kobzar beside the Museum of Folk Architecture "Shevchenkivskyi Hai"

Deliatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko in the park

Nadvirna, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko in the town centre

Mykulychyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko beside the school

Vorokhta, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko beside the sanatorium

Rakhiv, Zakarpattia region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko in the park

Donetsk. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko in the botanical garden, in a plot dedicated to the Kobzar

Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2011. Sculptor V. Rozhyk

Smila, the Taras Shevchenko station. Cherkasy region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko

Izium, Kharkiv region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 2014. Sculptor O. M. Ridnyi

Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 1991

Myrhorod, Poltava region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1971

Dubno, Rivne region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko in the park

Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 1965

Pavlohrad. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 2004. Sculptor M. Myroshnychenko

Sloviansk, Donetsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1992

Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Odesa region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2004. Sculptor O. Kopiev

Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 2008. Sculptor I. Bazylevskyi

The greatest number of monuments has been raised in the western regions.

Bili Oslavy, Ivano-Frankivsk region. 1990. Sculptor V. Rymar

Obroshyne, Lviv region.

Tatariv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. 

Lysynychi, Lviv region. 1911. The very first monument in Ukraine

Kremenets, Ternopil region.

Truskavets, Lviv region.

Morshyn, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1997. Sculptor M. M. Posikira

Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1991. Sculptor Ya. Skakun

Khodoriv, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1992. Sculptor A. V. Halian

Turka, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1990

Skole, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1991. Sculptor V. I. Skolozdra

Staryi Sambir, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1964

Zhydachiv, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1992. Sculptor V. Blysiuk

Stryi, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko in the park that bears his name. 1958

Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1964. 

Even in the most remote village, communities small in number regard it as a sacred duty to have a monument to Taras Hryhorovych.

The village of Dora, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Bust of the Kobzar beside the school. 1963

Herynia, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the village council. 1996

Lysiatychi, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1990. Sculptor V. Odrekhovskyi

Pidhirtsi, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1992. Sculptor V. Odrekhovskyi

Dobrivliany, Lviv region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 1992. 

Ploske, Zakarpattia region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko beside the school

Amateur craftsmen make modest memorial markers with their own hands, yet the memory of the Kobzar is not diminished.

 

Nove Selo, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko

Druzhkivka, Donetsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko

Sometimes the national Awakeners are depicted in a pair, and even in a trio.

Uhersko, Lviv region. The "Unity" monument

Bratkivtsi, Lviv region. Monument to the Kobzar and the Stonemason. 1990. Sculptor I. Zavozin

Stryi, Lviv region. The "Awakeners" monument. 1995. By the Odrekhovskyi sculptors

Some artists depict Shevchenko as a young man.

Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2019. Sculptor P. Antyp

Pryluky, Chernihiv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2007. Sculptor S. T. Kantur

Drohobych, Lviv region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1991. Sculptors I. Honchar and A. Honchar

More and more, sculptors picture the poet seated, or surrounded by the characters of his works.

Konotop, Sumy region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1993. Sculptor O. Smotrov

Vinnytsia. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 2014. Sculptor A. V. Haidamaka

Zolotonosha, Cherkasy region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1993. Sculptor M. F. Movchun

Dubno, Rivne region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko. 1991. Sculptor L. Biziuk

In regional centres and in small towns and villages alike, busts of this man who is a symbol of the nation stand beside schools, libraries, houses of culture and museums.

Lviv. Bust of the Kobzar in the yard of School No. 63. 1960

Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. A park

Stryi, Lviv region. The People's House. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko

 

Drohobych, Lviv region. The Ivan Franko University. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko

Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. A vocational school. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko

Varvarivka, Dnipropetrovsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the school

Lozova, Kharkiv region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko in the Shevchenko park

Khutoro-Chapline, Dnipropetrovsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside a closed school

Ukrainka, Dnipropetrovsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the club. 1977

Yurivka, Donetsk region. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko beside the museum

Avdiivka, Donetsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko

Lysivka, Donetsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the school. 2017

Udachne, Donetsk region. Memorial marker to T. H. Shevchenko beside the school

Novohrodivka, Donetsk region. 2001. Sculptor Ya. Skakun

Turka, Lviv region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the school

Biletske, Donetsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko beside the community centre

There are cases where monuments of the Soviet era are reworked, when the authorities save face on the eve of a celebration.

 

Myrnohrad, Donetsk region. A former monument to Georgi Dimitrov

Unwise restorers sometimes paint the statues gold.

 

Dobropillia, Donetsk region. Bust of T. H. Shevchenko. 2001. Sculptor P. Antyp

For the 200th anniversary of Taras Hryhorovych, to mark the jubilee, memorial plaques were made and mounted on the facades of town and village administrations.

 

A memorial plaque for the 200th anniversary of the Kobzar

Memorial tablets that are now more than a hundred years old have survived.

 

Sambir, Lviv region. Memorial tablet in honour of the 100th anniversary of T. H. Shevchenko

Stryi, Lviv region. Memorial tablet in honour of the 100th anniversary of T. H. Shevchenko

In some towns, bas-reliefs and memorial markers have been set up in honour of Shevchenko's stay there, and also as street-name plaques.

 

Bolekhiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Street-name plaque of Shevchenko Street

Mykolaiv. Street-name plaque of Shevchenko Street

Dubno, Rivne region. Memorial plaque about the stay of T. H. Shevchenko

The map and the list of memorial markers in honour of T. H. Shevchenko are constantly being expanded and added to. Please note in the comments the places of any recently erected monuments and tablets.

Sloviansk, Donetsk region. Memorial plaque on the facade of a school

Bakhmut, Donetsk region. A stele with a quotation from T. H. Shevchenko

Taras Shevchenko and his work are the foundation of the identity of the Ukrainian nation, and his "Kobzar" is the treasury of our people. When we come to know the works of Taras Hryhorovych, when our children read his verses to their own descendants — that will be the finest way of keeping the memory of the Ukrainian poet-prophet.