Monument in the Koprivkite area
Plovdiv district, south of Zdravets lodge, Rhodope Mountains
Koprivkite area is located near the Zdravets lodge in the Rhodope Mountains, at 1350 meters above sea level. Work on the project began in the late 1960s and continued for several years until the early 1970s. The vast meadow, the mountain view and the relative proximity to the city of Plovdiv introduce the folklore use of the term “Little Buzludzha” for this place. Others use the more direct and prosaic “Koprivkite Monument”. The official reason for this monument is to pay tribute to the fallen partisans from the “Georgi Dimitrov” brigade.
The 7-meter statue (with the pedestal) presents a classic subject – a woman with flowing hair, holding a sword in her hand. Here, the author deals with the interpretation of established and working models in historical terms, which are unambiguous and visually carry a subconscious message. The proud gaze directed at the eternity, the hair blown by the wind and the sword ready for battle, remind us of the images of Themis and Joan of Arc. The representation of the female hero who is also armed is a strong message and carries an impactful symbolism. A woman is a warrior, a winner, a leader and an ideology. She brings righteousness and strength. The plastic solution of the Koprivkite Monument brings to the fore the moral and spiritual victory of the dead. The combination of the natural view and the location of the monument in the particular open environment makes the impact of the ensemble strong, fascinating and emotional.
The monument is made of Vratsa limestone – a material that has become almost traditional for monumental Bulgarian sculpture from this period. One of the reasons why this stone is used intensively is that it can withstand sub-zero temperatures without breaking its structure. In contrast to the well-known marble, which, when it absorbs water and after the temperature drops, becomes scaly and begins to crumble. World practice shows that many marble statues in northern countries are wrapped in winter to protect them from this process. There is no such danger with the Vratsa limestone.
Unfortunately, at the Koprivkite Monument, we observe with the greatest force the problem related to the lack of any, even elementary, principle for the aestheticization of the environment and compliance with the rules for the objects of our cultural heritage. Currently, the monument coexists with a guest house, built in a flash, because of the commercial proximity to the ski slope. The guest house literally steps on part of the sculptural composition itself. The ski slope is a good thing, so is tourism. Regular visitors to “Koprivkite” are children and young people from Plovdiv. But this guest house shows the complete absence of an adequate institutional solution and intervention in this problem. In this case, not only the monument is at risk, but also the ski slope itself. This beloved and iconic place for generations of Bulgarian citizens is about to disappear.
All photos of the monument with the possibility of detailed enlargement see here:
