In Ploshcha Znan’ (Square of Knowledge) of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has appeared a new art object. This is a gift to the university from the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Ukraine. It was presented to the participants of the grand opening ceremony by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Pier Francesco Zazo and the author - the famous Italian artist, architect and designer Paolo Coia.
Among the participants of the ceremony were Edoardo Crisafulli, Director of Italian Cultural Institute in Ukraine, employees of the Embassy of Italy in Ukraine, students and teachers of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute led by the rector of the university Academician Michael Zgurovsky, and representatives of the Kyiv public. Such attention to the new monumental composition on the campus of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is not accidental: it is a visual representation of Italy's support of the Ukrainian people’s struggle for their right to live, work and develop freely on their own land.
"Today, we are adding another art object to the system of our youth education at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute - the sculptural composition " The DNA of Сreativity", which allegorically asserts that there is no personality without creativity. Its opening symbolizes our intentions for the further development of cultural ties with the Italian Republic. The author of the composition, Paolo Koia, noted: "This is a good opportunity to bring the peoples of Italy and Ukraine closer together. I want to join these beautiful words," said Michael Zgurovsky, opening the ceremony.
The opening of the monumental composition took place on November 25, just two days after another russia's war crime - the missile attack on the country's energy infrastructure, the killing of peaceful Ukrainians and the destruction of several residential buildings. The crime that this insidious state, which is trying to drag the world into the darkness of the Middle Ages, committed immediately after the European Parliament officially recognized it as a state sponsor of terrorism in its plenary session by a majority vote, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly not only recognized the russian federation as a terrorist state, but also supported the Ukrainian delegation's proposal to create a special International Tribunal on russian aggression. This added supplementary symbolism to the action itself, because art is always about life, even in spite of the most terrible trials and, it would seem, the most unfavorable circumstances for creativity.
"Today, Italy provides comprehensive assistance to Ukraine at the political, diplomatic, economic and military levels. Cooperation in the field of culture also plays an important role, because it is culture that connects both peoples - Ukrainian and Italian - extremely strongly," Pier Francesco Zazo emphasized, speaking at the composition opening ceremony.
A new art object in Ploshcha Znan’ (Square of Knowledge) of the university became the artistic embodiment of the importance of the cooperation between both countries in the humanitarian sphere, and it can be important as one of the cultural components of the education of future specialists. "During the conversation with the rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Michael Zgurovsky, we talked about how valuable it is to combine the exact sciences with the humanities for comprehensive personality development when training engineers," the Italian ambassador added.
Talking about his work, Paolo Coia also calls it “Original Creative DNA". The name reveals the meaning - it is a modern symbol of a spasm of creativity and a quest for inspiration, the pulsing life in the steel embrace of modernity and the eternal search for the new. And also, written in the creator's genes, awareness of his roots and memory of his predecessors. So the original DNA is life that conquers death and affirms the eternal invincibility of the human desire for knowledge and perfection. Hence the choice of materials - marble (eternal material!) of the pedestal and steel tape, which is formed by genes connected in one endless chain. The composition itself is deeply thought out: it is the result of a combination of contrasting winding and geometric forms. According to the author, the base is made in the shape of a typical Italian coffee maker and represents the moment of discussing an idea, the apogee of creative brainstorming, which generates a whirlwind of thoughts that suddenly explode and start the authentic DNA of ingenuity, thanks to which thousands of beautiful and useful objects have been created. The mention of the Italian coffee maker was very appropriate, as the entire friendly atmosphere of this event, it seemed to warm the people who gathered in Ploshcha Znan’ (Square of Knowledge) on this gloomy autumn day.
"I chose marble as the basis for my work to demonstrate the natural deep connection of people with their own roots, land and history, and steel, peculiar to my style, to emphasize the strength and endurance of Ukrainian friends in the fight for the freedom of their land." - this is how Paolo Coia explains his intention.
By the way, the sculptor did not accidentally mention his Ukrainian friends: he has lived in Ukraine since 2016, has taken an active part in its cultural life, has organized educational and artistic Italian-Ukrainian events, and since the beginning of the large-scale war with russia, he has also been involved in volunteer activities. And when asked why he chose Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute for his composition, Paolo Koia answered: "Because scientists, in particular scientists of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, find solutions to many problems. And this is a moment of creativity and the discovery of the creative nature that researchers carry. Therefore, I believe that the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is the best place for this sculpture. After all, ideas are born here, creativity is born here. Because inventions are also the product of our creative search."
So this sculptural composition became a symbol of creative search and, at the same time, support for Ukraine. In an extremely difficult period of our history, Italy, as a true friend, provides our country not only with financial and military-technical aid, but also with spiritual support. And it was the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute that once again became one of those bridges that connect and bring closer to each other the cultures of Ukraine and Italy, and the sculpture of the Italian artist Paolo Coia, which depicts the original creative DNA, is a material embodiment of the idea of cross-cultural interaction and the respect between Italian and Ukrainian nations.
A new sculpture has appeared on campus. Its author is the Italian artist Paolo Coia.
He included several important meanings in his work. And Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute was chosen as the location, because this is where ideas and inventions are born.