"Sword is more appropriate than cross": Author of monument to Stefan Nemanja explains his decision

On the day of the unveiling of the monument to Stefan Nemanja (grand prince of Serbia born in 1113, died in 1199), its author, the Russian sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov denied speculations that the cross in the hand of the founder of the Serbian state had been replaced with a sword at the last moment.

In a statement for Sputnik the famous artist stresses that the sword is more suitable than the cross and that the decision was made in consultation with experts.

"I heard that this topic was discussed lately and the question has been asked why the cross was replaced with a sword? It has also been said that it was replaced at the last moment. Well, it wouldn't even be realistic to do it at the last moment. On the contrary, it was replaced at the beginning," he said.

The sculptor also describes how the decision was made to have a sword in Stefan Nemanja's hand and for the monument to look the way everyone was able to see last night in Belgrade, during its unveiling.

"While working on the monument, I had many consultants, historians, we thought for a long time and decided to show Stefan Nemanja in secular rather than in spiritual clothes, and that we should show him as a man who created the Serbian statehood. That's what's most important," he explained.

Rukavishnikov explains that this is why the scepter was included, and why Stefan Nemanja relies on Byzantine culture and Byzantine influence with one foot.

In this particular case, he explained, the sword makes sense because it is more convenient since the silhouette of the monument ends in a blade. Another argument is that tautology should be avoided in a sculpture.

The monument shows Stefan Nemanja with the encolpion, a cross on his chest. The point is not to have a cross in your hand and another on your chest, as was once the case with monuments to Lenin - he'd have a cap on his head and a cap in his his hand. That is why the solution was the sword, the author explains, and adds that he thinks this was right the right choice.

The Russian sculptor also sent a message on the occasion of last night's opening ceremony, and effectively denied speculations that he did not want to come to Belgrade:

"I hope that this is a great event for the brotherly Serb people, because it'is a great event for me personally. The work was hard and quite long. I am very sorry that I cannot be with you, because I recently had a modern disease, coronaviruss, and now I'm recovering. I congratulate you once again on the feast and I hope that you will not only get used to that monument, but that you may even get to love it. Thank you," he said.

(Telegraf.rs)