One can argue endlessly about what happiness is, and what is most interesting is that all versions will be true. This concept does not have a single precise definition. Meanwhile, the monument to Happiness appeared not so long ago in the city of Tomsk. What does this monument look like and what is the main idea behind its creation?
Legendary cartoon
In 1982, the Soyuzmultfilm studio pleased the audience with its new creation. "Once upon a time there was a dog" - this is the name of this legendary cartoon, on which more than one generation of citizens of our country has grown up. The director of the animated film is Eduard Nazarov, the roles were voiced by Armen Dzhigarkhanyan and Georgy Burkov. If you suddenly forgot the plot of this famous cartoon, we remind you that it tells about the friendship and mutual assistance of a dog and a wolf. These two animals are enemies, the task of a domestic dog is to drive away wild predators. The wolf is the owner of the forest. He wants to profit from farm animals and without hesitation enters into a fight with a dog tamed by a man. However, in a difficult life situation, a wolf and a dogstart helping each other. The story is good and instructive, but what does the monument to Happiness have to do with it? The thing is that this is what people call the bronze statue of a wolf from the cartoon “Once upon a time there was a dog.”
The idea of creating an unusual monument
OJSC "Tomlesstroy" became the main sponsor of the project. It was by her order that the sculpture was made and installed. The Monument to Happiness was opened for the 400th anniversary of the city (autumn 2005). Participated in the production of the composition: artist-consultant Leonty Usov and foundry worker Maxim Petrov. The place for the installation of the monument was chosen especially carefully, and as a result, a suitable site was found - one of the popular squares in the center among residents and guests. The sculpture was received positively by the public, today it is included in the list of the most original and interesting sights of Tomsk.
Monument to Happiness (Tomsk): description
The bronze figure of a wolf is located on a low pedestal lined with granite slabs. The sculpture depicts a cartoon character at the moment of climax. According to the plot of the cartoon, the wolf crept under the wedding table and heartily ate various delicacies, after which he uttered his legendary phrase: “I’ll sing right now!” It is not difficult to recognize and remember this moment by the relaxed posture and convex belly of the sculpture. But if someone still has doubts, a sign with the inscription “I’ll sing right now!” flaunts on the pedestal. This is the correct name of the monument, but the people know it as a monument to Happiness. This inscription on the pedestalalso present.
Interesting facts about the "happy" monument
To decorate the city with a bright and positive sculpture seemed insufficient to its authors. If you stroke a wolf on the stomach, he will tell you: “I’ll sing right now!”, “God help me!” or another cartoon catchphrase. Of course, in the original dubbing - the voice of Armen Dzhigarkhanyan. In total, the Monument to Happiness (Tomsk) “knows” 8 different phrases from the film. Initially, they also planned to mount a webcam in the sculpture and delight each passerby with an individual appeal, but later this idea was abandoned. According to various sources, the sculpture's electronics break down from time to time and become a victim of vandals. The people of Tomsk and neighboring cities liked the Monument to Happiness so much that it was decided to create copies. Similar monuments appeared in Angarsk (2007) and Krasnoyarsk (2008). But, despite the fact that today in our country there are only three monuments "I'll sing right now", the most famous is the first one, installed in Tomsk.
The idea of a sculptural composition
What does the "happy" monument call for? Really eat from the heart? Of course not, according to the creators, the sculpture should remind you to be kind to each other. Responsiveness and mutual assistance - this is what modern people lack. The creators of the sculpture hope that the city with the monument to Happiness will become kinder. Indeed, sometimes just some simplehousehold items create a mood. Happiness has many shades, but they invariably include: delicious food, satiety, the opportunity to sleep, and other physiological needs. It turns out that the monument “I’ll sing right now!” reminds the townspeople immediately about how to be happy and teaches them to be kind to each other. The sculpture is very popular with the locals, and all tourists come to see it. They take pictures at the monument, there are always a lot of children around it. Not surprisingly, the belly of the cartoon wolf differs in color from the rest of the parts and is always polished by the touch of a huge number of tourists' hands. See with your own eyes the monument to Happiness “I’ll sing right now!” can be at the address: Shevchenko street, 19/1. The sculpture is installed in the city square near the shopping center. If you manage to visit this monument, don't forget to pat him on the stomach.
