Andrei Halias

The Monument to Yakub Kolas in Minsk is an iconic monument dedicated to one of the founders of modern Belarusian literature. It was installed in 1972 on the square named after the national poet to commemorate the 90th anniversary of his birth. Yakub Kolas Square, formerly known as Komarovskaya, was renamed in honor of the poet in 1956 after his death.

The monument is a complex spatial composition consisting of three sculptural groups. At the center is an 8-meter figure of Yakub Kolas himself, depicted sitting in contemplation, resting on his hand. The poet is presented in his mature age, emphasizing his wisdom and deep thoughts. Sculptor Zair Azgur paid particular attention to the portrait likeness and life-like details of the figure.

On both sides of Kolas’ central figure are characters from his works. On the right is a sculptural group representing Dzed Talas and his son Panas from the story "Drygva." They appear watchful, as if on guard, peering into the distance. To the left of Kolas are the figures of Symon-Muzyka and his companion Hanka – characters from the eponymous poem. This group is rendered in a lyrical style, reflecting the musical and poetic motifs of the writer's work.

The monument fits harmoniously into the overall ensemble of Yakub Kolas Square. A small park, planted with slender birch trees and blue spruces, surrounds the monument. These trees symbolize Belarusian nature, creating a picturesque backdrop for the monument throughout the year. Fountains, stylized as ears of rye, complement the composition, adding artistic expression to the square.

Zair Azgur, a famous Soviet and Belarusian sculptor, worked on the monument in collaboration with architects Yuri Gradov, Georgy Zaborsky, and Lev Levin. Thanks to their joint efforts, they managed to create a monument that not only reflects the spirit of Yakub Kolas' work but also became an integral part of Minsk’s cultural landscape.

An interesting fact is that after the trees were planted around the monument, some had to be removed as their roots began to penetrate the metro system located beneath the square. This incident added intriguing details to the monument's creation history.

In addition, a popular urban legend tells that during the early days of perestroika, a shelter for Minsk's homeless was found beneath the statue of Kolas. This story became part of local mythology, although there are no official confirmations of its veracity.

The monument to Yakub Kolas attracts not only tourists but also local residents. Minsk citizens love to relax in the park near the monument, and city guests often take photos against its backdrop. Recently, the square has also become a venue for various cultural events and open-air exhibitions, making it even more popular among art lovers.

Thus, the monument to Yakub Kolas not only immortalizes the memory of the great Belarusian writer but also serves as an important cultural landmark for the city of Minsk.

雅库布·科拉斯纪念碑 是一座标志性的纪念碑，致敬白俄罗斯现代文学的奠基人之一。它于1972年在以民族诗人命名的广场上竖立，以纪念他诞辰90周年。雅库布·科拉斯广场原名科马罗夫斯卡娅广场，1956年在诗人去世后更名为他的名字。

这座纪念碑是一组复杂的空间构成，由三组雕塑组成。中央是一座8米高的雅库布·科拉斯雕像，他被描绘成坐在思索中，手扶在膝上。诗人呈现出成熟的形象，彰显他的智慧与深刻的思考。雕塑家扎伊尔·阿兹古尔特别注重肖像的相似性与形象的生活化细节。

科拉斯雕像两侧是他作品中的人物。右侧是一组描绘了《德里格瓦》故事中塔拉什爷爷与他儿子帕纳斯的雕塑。他们显得警觉，好像在守望，远眺着前方。科拉斯左侧则是《西蒙-音乐家》及其伴侣汉卡的形象。这组雕塑充满了抒情风格，反映了作家作品中的音乐与诗意主题。

纪念碑与雅库布·科拉斯广场的整体格局和谐融为一体。纪念碑周围是一个小公园，种植着修长的白桦树和蓝色云杉。这些树木象征着白俄罗斯的自然，全年为纪念碑创造出如画的背景。喷泉设计成麦穗的造型，补充了整个构图，为广场增添了艺术表现力。

扎伊尔·阿兹古尔这位著名的苏联和白俄罗斯雕塑家，与建筑师尤里·格拉多夫、格奥尔基·扎博尔斯基和列夫·列文合作，共同完成了纪念碑的设计。他们成功地创建了不仅反映雅库布·科拉斯创作精神的纪念碑，而且使其成为明斯克文化景观中不可或缺的一部分。

有趣的是，纪念碑周围的树木种植后，其中一部分必须移除，因为它们的根开始侵入广场下方的地铁系统。这一事件为纪念碑的创建历史增添了有趣的细节。

此外，民间传说在改革开放初期，科拉斯雕像下曾发现过明斯克流浪者的避难所。这个故事成为了城市神话的一部分，尽管没有任何官方证据证实其真实性。

雅库布·科拉斯纪念碑吸引了众多游客，也深受当地居民的喜爱。明斯克市民喜欢在纪念碑旁的公园中休息，游客们则常在纪念碑前合影。近来，广场也成为了举办各种文化活动和露天展览的场地，使其在艺术爱好者中更加受欢迎。

因此，雅库布·科拉斯纪念碑不仅是纪念伟大白俄罗斯作家的标志性建筑，也是明斯克重要的文化地标。