The scandal around the Violinist on the Roof sculpture removed last year does not calm down. The destiny of the sculpture is actively discussed in the Internet. Once again, the fake revealing materials about Oleksandr Feldman, whose charitable foundation was the initiator of the installation of the sculpture mounted at own expense, are appearing.
The position of the mayor Hennadiy Kernes is categorical: Feldman must return the Violinist. Otherwise, the copy of the Violinist will be created in order to be mounted on the place of the removed ‘Feldman’s’ musician.
Our corresponded asked Oleksandr Feldman who is currently away on business in the USA to make a comment. During the phone conversation, Oleksandr Feldman said: “Let’s make no drama out of the situation. Everything happening now around the Violinist is a frank manipulation. The scandal continues only because someone doesn’t allow it to calm down constantly pouring oil on the fire. I repeat it once again: the Violinist was removed by us after the numerous fits of hysteria of the person demanding today to place it back. I am very sorry that the Violinist on the Roof, which is really one of the symbols of Kharkiv, became the victim of the mayor’s whims. As for the plans to mount the Violinist’s copy, I would say the following: when ‘one has gone off his chump,’ it is possible to mount a violinist on every roof of the city of Kharkiv. There will be a real orchestra. It is difficult to say what is the reason of sorting things out with the help of monuments. By the way, before the ‘epic’ with the Violinist, there were strict directions to advertising agencies, including the ones from Kyiv, to remove all ads of Feldman Ecopark and the charitable foundation in the city. It should be noted that there are no obstacles for our ads in Kharkiv oblast. What is hidden behind this strict command ‘not to allow?’ Why our logos cause this irritation? Maybe it was a logo of AVEC at the foot of the Violinist that caused inconvenience? I’ll try to suppose that it is just greed. If there is a reason, there will always be a ‘Violinist.’ There is a wonderful and so to say perfect joke: after the première, the first violin leaving the stage with the big bunch of carnations presented by the true admirers, asked the conductor who held a huge basket of roses: “Why are you crying, maestro? You are applauded, you made a great success.” The answer was: “Yes, but you also did.” I would like to say that these ‘oral statements of the parties’ are good neither for the city, nor for the residents. I am sure that the sense may be only in deeds, which make our city better.”
