Made of steel and glass: a monument dedicated to the “New Wave” contest has been installed in Yelmay Park

A monument dedicated to the “New Wave” music contest was installed in Yelmai Park in Kazan. The 400-kg monument is made of steel and glass. The design was inspired on the festival’s logo, which symbolizes the musical wave. 

Opening the event, the Mayor of Kazan emphasized the special connection between the city and Igor Krutoy’s team, which originated back during the preparations for the Universiade. “It is a great honor for us to see you here. The idea of holding “New Wave” in Kazan has been in the air since the time of the Universiade – an event that changed our city forever. Igor Krutoy and his team were in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, and since then, every project you have undertaken has made Kazan brighter,” Ilsur Metshin noted. 

The Mayor emphasized that the music festival had organically fit into the urban environment: “When ‘New Wave’ reached the banks of the Volga and the Kazanka, a completely new list of singers came to the city. Yesterday, there was heavy rain at Raimonds Pauls’s night, but even that seemed symbolic — many of the songs were about rain. And today, the sun is shining, and that’s a good sign.” The Mayor thanked Igor Krutoy for his friendship and for contributing to the development of the cultural environment, particularly noting the role of the Igor Krutoy Academy in the life of the city. “I believe this monument will become not just a commemorative sign, but an inspiration. Let it encourage our children to sing, dance, and dream. And let us always have the sunny ‘New Wave,’” the Mayor concluded. 

In his turn, Igor Krutoy admitted that Kazan had become a truly home place for the festival. “We have a lot in common with this city. It is hard to find a more hospitable place. If someone suddenly wants the festival to change its location, we’ll say: ‘No, our monument is already here, we must hold it here,’” the composer joked. Igor Krutoy also highly praised the level of preparation of the participants and the organizational support provided by the city and regional authorities. 

The installation, which is 2.2 meters high and weighs 400 kg, is made of steel and glass. The author of the art object is the well‑known sculptor Alfiz Sabirov.