Petro Antyp. Monument to Stone

Petro Antyp’s Monument to Stone is a monumental sculpture that embodies the artist’s philosophical vision of history as a gradual ascent from chaos to order, from darkness to light. Created in 2003, it combines archaic motifs with a contemporary plastic language.

The composition follows that of the 11th-century Zbruch Idol: a vertical structure symbolizing the upwards movement from the earth-bound to the celestial. The cubic granite pedestal at the lowest level symbolizes the foundations of the earth. The bronze parallelepiped “torso” in the middle enshrines the inert amorphous matter. The composition concludes with an oval “head” as a sign of thinking matter, the pinnacle of evolution and spiritual development.

Laconic forms, clear proportions and the absence of unnecessary details lend the work unique expressiveness. The artist describes it as “contemporary archaic,” a kurgan stela for the 21st century. In the culture of our ancestors, these stelae were seen as vessels for souls, and their presence in the landscape had a sacred meaning.

The sculptor offers a contemporary interpretation of this ancient image, transforming A Monument to Stone into a symbol of continuity in time and spiritual heritage.