On 20th of September 2018 in Kiev opened Kiev Elephant Mini Sculpture - bronze statue of elephant-fountain that was located before on site of Arch of Friendship of Peoples.

Updated! Kiev Elephant Mini Sculpture was restored on 28.12.2018 on the top level of Mall "Globus" under main dome of Kiev Fountains. From previous location the original mini sculptute was taken by unkown people and lost.

The installation of the mini sculpture is a part of tourist project "Search" created by travel guide Yulia Bevzenko.

Author of Kiev Elephant Mini Sculpture is sculptor Sergei Galenko in cooperation with Galenko Gallery.

This moment there are other main symbols of Kiev that are presented in mini-sculptures around Kiev city center - Chicken Kiev, Kiev Chestnut, Kiev Cake, Kiev Tram, Kiev First Car Benz Velo, Kiev Brick Plinfa.

Kiev Elephant Fountain History

The idea to turn pre-revolutionary Merchant Garden into one large Park of Pioneers appeared in 1930 and was realized by diligence of students of Construction Institute under direction of Vladimir Zabolotny.

It was decided to create a large chain of fountains and their realization was implemented under direction of architect Frolov. The main idea of fountains was a happy childhood therefore names of sculptures were: Pouring Children, Playing Children, Mother Pour Children, Cascading Mushrooms and the main large fountain - Elephant.

From the trunk of the elephant was beaten six-meter jet of water complemented by the effect of counter-streams along the rim. Children could not climb into the fountain as it was protected with prickly Canna.

Kiev Elephant Fountain is one of the few survived after bombing of Kiev in Second World War and next became a symbol of the surviving city and a symbol of its rebirth. It was fond of portraying on postwar postcards and shooting in films: https://youtu.be/R5v1x4GLtfQ

Almost every home archives of Kiev residents of 1950s there is a photo of Kiev Elephant Fountain.

In 1950s near the fountain was the most popular dance floor in the city. In 1979 the leadership of Communist Party approved project of a monument dedicated to "historical reunification of Ukraine and Russia" and People's Friendship Arch so Kiev Elephant Fountain was dismantled and lost.

On February 2018 Kiev citizens made proposition to Kiev City Council to dismantle People's Friendship Arch and return back Kiev Elephant Fountain. The idea and project needs large financial resources that was not found in city budget.

We hope one day Kiev Elephant Mini Sculpture will stay near restored Kiev Elephant Fountain which will continue to remind of a happy childhood!

Organizers of Kiev Elephant Mini Sculpture

Team of Project "Search"
Mall "Globus"
Kiev, Ukraine

Pavel Korsun
Tour Guide
Ukraine tours and Kiev tours

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