Russian Eurasianists believe Fidel Castro is the embodiment of Zeus and symbol of the struggle for freedom
The embodiment of the image of Zeus and the symbol of the struggle for freedom
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April 27, 2023, 09:00 | |
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Today, April 27, 2023, marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of Fidel Castro's historic visit to the USSR. This visit laid the solid foundation on which nowadays, at a new stage, it is possible to build Russian-Kuban relations. This will be the main theme of the events to be held on April 27, 2023, on the day of the 60th anniversary of the beginning of Fidel Castro's visit, at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The organizer is the Fidel Castro Foundation for the Promotion of Russian-Cuban Relations (Foundation named after Fidel Castro).
According to the correspondent of the portal "Eurasia", the exhibition "Russia through the eyes of Fidel Castro" (to the 60th anniversary of the historical visit of Fidel Castro to the USSR) will be opened in the OP of the Russian Federation, which will present rare pictures.
After the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the round table "Fundamentals of cooperation between Russia and Cuba, laid down by Fidel Castro: development of Russian-Cuban relations at the present stage - ideology and practice" will begin its work, in which political and public figures will take part. The discussion will be attended by representatives of the Cuban Embassy in Russia, coordinator of the Cuba-Venezuela Friendship Society Yonny Garcia Cayes, as well as connection from Havana.
This is not the first time that the Fidel Castro Foundation has attracted the attention of the world community in connection with the perpetuation of the memory of Comandante. On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the death of Fidel Castro, a monument to the leader of the Cuban Revolution was unveiled in Moscow. The solemn ceremony, which took place on November 22, 2022 in the capital's Sokol district on the square named in honor of the great freedom fighter for his country, was attended by the presidents of Russia and Cuba Vladimir Putin and Miguel Díaz-Canel, as well as representatives of the authorities and public of the two countries. The initiator of the installation of the monument was the Foundation named after Fidel Castro.
Two days later, a large international scientific and practical conference dedicated to Russian-Cuban relations in the new geopolitical reality and the conditions of the formation of a multipolar world was held in the Russian capital. The event, which was also organized by the Fidel Castro Foundation, was attended by heads and employees of the diplomatic missions of Cuba and Venezuela in Moscow, representatives of the delegation of the Republic of Cuba, employees of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian politicians, scientists and public figures.
On the sidelines of the conference, the correspondent of the portal "Eurasia" talked to the authors of the Moscow monument to Fidel Castro - the sculptor of the Studio of Military Artists named after M.B. Grekova Alexey Chebanenko and architect Andrey Bely.
- What does Fidel Castro's personality mean to you? What features did you want to reflect in the monument?
Alexey Chebanenko: First of all, Fidel is a man of freedom, strength, power, unyieved will, just the greatest character and a symbol of defending his position both in the last century and in the present. And this is the image we wanted to convey. This is a man who has made a successful people's revolution in his country - the only one in many years, if not centuries, a people's revolution, not a color revolution. This man united entire nations. That is, Fidel is a symbol of strength, power, confidence, charisma and friendship between our peoples, between Russia and Cuba, between Cuba and the Soviet Union.
Andrey Bely: Now many people are asking why Fidel? The fact is that Fidel actually created Cuba. It is a symbol of Cuba and a symbol of freedom.
We faced a difficult task to integrate the monument into the architectural environment that exists on Fidel Castro Square. There's even a hatch where the heating main passes. We have integrated a map of Cuba into this hatch. It turns out that if you look through this hatch at the other end of the Earth, Cuba is about there.
- How long did the work on the monument go on?
Andrey Bely: If we talk about holding a competition, it's six months. But we've been involved in this project before.
Alexey Chebanenko: I'm a resident of the Sokol district myself. I've known Fidel and his personality for a long time. Plus, for me, as an artist, Fidel's appearance is an expression of a very harmonious combination. He is very similar to the ancient Greek god Zeus and to make such an outstanding person with such a unique appearance and charisma is a great luck for any creator. This is the case when beauty and character come together in one. The idea of creating the image of Fidel has been in the air for a long time, and we implemented it. In the process, a separate portrait of Fidel Castro was made, a lot of sketches were invented.
Earlier this year, the Russian Military Historical Society, on the initiative of the Ministry of Defense, organized a competition for the project of the monument to Fidel Castro. Grekov's studio, where I work, won a competition with our project, after which we implemented it. We were greatly assisted and supported by the Russian Society for Friendship between Russia and Cuba and the Fidel Castro Memorial Foundation, which actively shared archival photos and videos. Since Fidel Castro is a historical figure, he should be portrayed as accurately as possible. We were sent photos of Fidel's jacket, his pants, shoes corresponding to the age in which he is depicted in the sculpture. And the image of Fidel embodied in the monument depicts him young, about 35 years old. Around this age, he headed Cuba and came to the Soviet Union.
- Did you make the monument yourself based on some historical photo of Fidel?
Alexey Chebanenko: Of course not. The monument is a collective image to convey the spirit of a person. The fact is that sculpture is a volume and a thing that should express not emotions, but a state. A photo is a cast at the moment, it's seconds. And we need to convey a deep image, will, charisma - everything we know about Fidel to read it. That is, it had to be filled with meaning. To do this, a huge amount of information, videos, photos, etc. were collected and integrated into the image. That is, an image that conveys his spirit was thought out.
Andrey Bely: And if we talk about the accessories of his clothes, even cigars - we've all studied it in detail. And it's not accidental. We depicted Fidel exactly what he was wearing. Even the cigar he holds in his right hand is the Cohiba cigar he smoked and which was created under Fidel. The Cigar Club of Russia helped us get this cigar.
- What do you think is the relevance of Fidel's personality for modern Russia?
Alexey Chebanenko: Imagine, it was a man from a poor family with a good legal education. He could have made a good career. But he had an idea, an inner impulse. He saw a problem in his country, that it is being robbed by imperialists, that his compatriots live almost in slavery and poverty, and Americans come to Cuba and have fun. And he wanted to change it. He set such a super idea and then implemented it, no matter what. He experienced deprivation, wandering, was in prison, but he achieved what he wanted. He was a man of unbending willpower and the strongest spirit. Now, unfortunately, there are very few such people. But they are very necessary, and first of all our country - Russia - is needed. Fidel is the image we should focus on.
Andrey Bely: If we talk about why our modern Russia needs the image of Fidel, then Alexey correctly said about the historical component. But here it is also important to voice the geopolitical component. Now Russia has few allies. And we must treat all our friends with reverent and care. Fidel is a symbol of Cuba. The support of our allies, the study of their past and present is very important for our contemporaries.
Alexey Chebanenko and Andrey Bely
Source: http://evrazia.org/article/3042