Atlas Obscura · People & society

Bishkek Monument's Lost Bronzes

A monument in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, originally featuring bronze portraits of national figures, now stands empty after the sculptures were stolen.

The monument, completed in 1995 by sculptor Turgunbai Sadykov, once displayed life-size bronze portraits of prominent Kyrgyz writers, poets, physicians, and scientists. Small brass plaques bearing their names remain on the concrete blocks.

Over time, the bronze portraits were stolen, likely for their scrap metal value. The artist had the remaining figures removed rather than continue replacing them.

In 2016, artist Brad Downey and a local research team identified the original figures. They then photographed contemporary Kyrgyz professionals in similar fields standing in the empty niches as a temporary replacement.

The monument, located on Chuy Avenue, is now largely overlooked, with the empty niches and name plaques catching the light.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.