The Soviet Union was heavily influenced by the beauty of the Roman Empire. It's incredibly evident with its love for mosaics, bas-reliefs, and various types of statues. These are considered something rare these days, as many throughout the various former republics had been destroyed at the collapse of the Soviet Union, destroyed from development attempting to modernise, or destroyed at the hands of time through decades of neglect. I remember seeing many mosaics in Georgia, of which had many pieces missing. Broken walls and collapsed features. Some buildings have the old hammer and sickle symbolism scratched off the bas-reliefs. Some bas-reliefs were removed entirely. As were the statues of Lenin and Stalin.
I love finding these areas, especially when they're found without me searching for them online beforehand. Stumbling across an old piece of history, something that has been ignored for decades, somewhat reclaimed by nature with overgrowth. A little bit sad to see sometimes, where it'd be preferred to see these creations kept in good condition and still used, particularly in the regard of buildings. There's a park not too far from where I live, and the park has some of the most unique features in the entirety of Yerevan. Very beautiful designs of statues that almost look as if they were made well before the Soviet Union, this was the case with something similar in Dilijan, but this isn't the same case here. This park is definitely Soviet. The statues have that beauty to them that really speaks of the USSR, attempting to follow in that style.
Previously, this park had seating areas that stood adjacent to the main fountain and statue in the middle of the upper side of the park. This seating area also featured cafes on the interior side. They've since been destroyed and all that remained was the debris. Pieces of rebar that poked out of broken concrete. A sad state, but the lower end of the park has been seeing some reconstruction. A downside, however, is that the statues are in terrible condition. Worse off since the last time I was here. Where now they're covered in stupid drawings and writings, unappreciated and likely to just be scrapped. I feel the need to document such things because of how quick countries are to destroy the beauty of the past around them and replace them with something modern that doesn't speak of their traditions and culture. It's a tragedy to see. I'm hoping that even the broken or currently removed statues will at least be fixed and/or replaced as the upper half of the park sees renovation.
The seating area and stage were once used in the USSR, but they serve no purpose now. I can understand why they'd be removed and freeing up the space that they stood on for people to use the future park. Though it seemed as if the demolition of those buildings caused more damage to the fountain area which had many missing and broken tiles. It looks pretty bad. Ideally that fountain works again in the future, but whether or not it can be saved? I have no idea. The upper half of the park definitely holds the most beauty to it. But going forward I'd be surprised if it's something that could be kept tidy. Is it destined to just have more statues damaged and written all over even if they're repaired and replaced? Has our society fallen in such a manner that we really can't have nice things anymore? Is that why everything became so monotone and boring in the first place?
I had these thoughts roaming through my head as I walked over the debris and around the statues, capturing one at a time. Also taking note of two kids that threw broken tiles over the wall and down into the newer, recently renovated lower half. I walked up to them and told them the police will likely catch them if they continue, which seemed to have scared them off. But it continued such thoughts on how we appreciate our pasts, and even the futures of our living spaces. I walked off into the sunset, feeling the colder air approaching. Uncertain as to whether any of these items will remain the next time I visit.