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Chizhik & those Sphinxes: Quirky tales behind even quirkier statues

Chizhik & those Sphinxes: Quirky tales behind even quirkier statues
During the last ten or so years, new and intriguing statues have been appearing on the streets of St. Petersburg. So while you are off wandering the streets, enjoying the White Nights, don’t forget to keep an eye out. 
 
The unusual bronze sculpture of Peter the Great, with his small head and spidery long fingers is found in the grounds of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was created by Russian artist, Mikhail Shemiakin. Erected in the early nineties, the statue initially attracted much controversy. Why is his head so small? Why does he look like he is sitting as if awaiting execution? Some see this interpretation as the image of the Tsar as he was the imagination of the public, the presentation of Peter’s ‘alter-ego’. His head was actually recreated from the Tsar’s own death mask. It’s possible to see by the shiny smooth knees and fingers, already worn down by who knows how many admirers, clambering up to sit on Peter’s knee.  
 
The eerie two-faced black Sphinxes sit on the Robespierre Embankment. The face is divided into two parts, the side turned toward the city is a regular human face, while the other, facing onto Kresty Prison is that of a skull with eye socket. Half human face - Half skull. Spooky. This monument, also created by Shemiakin is dedicated to the victims of political repression in the Soviet Union. Kresty Prison was the place where many victims began their journey to the gulag or to exile following persecution. Shemiakin was himself a victim during these times, forced to undergo compulsory treatment in a mental institution before being asked to emigrate from the Soviet Union in 1971. 
 
Chizhik Pizhik is probably the smallest tourist attraction in St. Petersburg. Little chizhik pizhik (Coming from the nursery rhyme, “Chizhik Pizhik where have you been? Drinking vodka on the green”), this tiny little bronze bird is installed half way up the embankment of the Fontanka, near the Summer Gardens. Sometimes people love Chizhik so much they want to take him home with them, and so they have stolen him. After the last theft, it is reported that the Museum of Urban Sculpture now has 12 extra Chizhik’s in storage just in case. Although Chizhik Pizhik has only been resident since 1994, a local legend has sprung up that if your coin lands on the shelf, then you will one day return to St. Petersburg.

You can usually see a crowd of people crowding around trying to land a coin on the little ledge supporting the statue. It was designed by Georgian artist Rezo Gabriadze, who said, "Chizhik Pizhik helps students to get through unhappy love-affairs and get around on public transport without having tickets."  Thanks little Chizzik! Where would we be without you?

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