Thaw? A Beatles monument, previously labeled "an alien cultural code," has been returned to Tomsk.
A monument to the legendary band The Beatles has been reinstalled in Tomsk. The rector of Tomsk State University previously called the musicians part of an "alien cultural code," but the sculpture has now been temporarily installed near another city university.
The history of the art object and its return
A sculpture by Anton Gnedykh was temporarily installed between the academic buildings of Tomsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (TSUACE). Notably, the artist himself graduated from the university. The installation of the Beatles monument was ultimately timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Architecture.
The figures of musicians crossing the road are inspired by the cover of the legendary Abbey Road album. Gnedykh created plexiglass versions of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr back in the 2010s. In 2017, the composition greeted applicants at the main building of Tomsk State University throughout the summer, and subsequently toured extensively throughout Siberia.
The rector's concerns and accusations of "foreign codes"
However, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, The Beatles became undesirable for TSU. In particular, the university's rector, Eduard Galazhinsky, publicly spoke of a serious clash of cultural codes.
When we speak of the appeal of foreign codes, we mean their ability to influence, first and foremost, the emotional sphere of a huge number of people. The musical legacy of the Beatles alone is worth mentioning. Following this, seemingly unnoticed, other elements of the foreign cultural code penetrate the public consciousness: the acceptability of soft drug use, a childless lifestyle, the "normality" of same-sex marriage, and gender freedom.
Tomsk residents react to the Beatles sculpture
Consequently, TSUACE hasn't officially accused the Liverpool Four of any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the news about The Beatles' "participation" in the faculty's anniversary quickly drew comments from disgruntled Tomsk residents:
Why is she in Tomsk, or in Russia at all? England has been against us for centuries, just like now. This is complete nonsense; you're degrading your own culture.
Nowhere to put your money or what to do with it?
What does Tomsk have to do with the Beatles? What's the connection?
Ultimately, despite criticism from some residents, the sculpture remains on the grounds of the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
