The sculptural complex «Pharmacy in centuries»
The sculptural complex “Pharmacy in centuries” (2004) is rested near the new educational complex of the National University of Pharmacy (st.Bluchera, 4) among the typical dwelling houses in Saltovky area uptown. The authors are the honoured artist of Ukraine, sculptor S.A. Gurbanov, a folk architector of Ukraine U.M.Schcodovsky. The dimension of the central figure is 4x1x1m. The statue “A Chemist” – 2×1,8×0,7 m), the composition “Future of Pharmacy” – 3,5×1, 2×1,4 m, the globe with 1,35 m in diameter.
The Rector of the Pharmacy University, the Doctor of Pharmacy, Honoured Scientist and Technician of Ukraine V.P.Chernych is the author of the creating monument idea, which appeared when celebrating the Day of Pharmacy worker in September 2001. He also created an aesthetic program of the complex.
The charity fund of Kharkiv pharmacy higher school graduates was created and headed by the professor O.G.Baschura.
The main idea of the complex is to show centuries old developments beginning from the little known doctors-chemists to the future pharmaceutists and scientists, which can not only prevent and cure diseases, but also prolong people’s lives in general.
The National University of Pharmacy was founded in 1805 as the department of Kharkiv University, which is called as the Kharkiv National University named after V.Karazin. To V.P.Chernych’s mind Kharkiv is the cradle of the Ukrainian Pharmacy. Many pharmacy specialists with higher education are trained here.
The central part of the complex is devoted to “Panacea” – an old Greek Godness, the name of which is translated like “healer”. From the very old ages it became widely used in the European languages.
S.A.Gubanov embodied the Godness like an energetic, plump woman with a prescription book and scales in her hands. Let’s remember the proverb “As sharp as in the chemist’s”. The image of the Godness is wind round by the chiton which falls down with the ripes to the floor. From the man’s side “Panacea” is overfilled with majesty and concentration. If we look at the figure of the Godness in profile we can see its measured walk towards people.
The highest pedestal of the triangular form which has sharp angles only helps people to feel the movement. The central figure of Panacea is twice bigger than side parts of the ensemble. As it is rested on the high pedestal base the movement gives solemn rhythm to the whole complex.
On the left, in 5 meters distance, on the stepped pedestal there is a statue of “A Chemist” in the university mantle and master’s tetragon head. It personifies chemists of medieval period. This statue underlines immemorial sourses of the pharmacist profession.
A master makes necessary mixture in a big bowl. His degree of concentration excites respect. The figure of the ancient pharmacist is perceived like a peculiar anthem to the heavy everyday work, which is of high need for ill people. In our computer century this statue figuratively expresses sincere gratitude of chemists by the previous generations of masters, which intuitively to the touch found new and new drugs. The statue is poured off with bronze in the natural size and is placed on the bench in such a way that the modern youth with a great pleasure sit down near and feel themselves like a spiritual relative or a colleague of the specialist of centuries for a moment
On the right from Panacea there is a group of figures “Future of Pharmacy”. Over the globe there is a wide ribbon. On the figure like on the particular base there is a pair of young diplomants in magistry mantles and coats. A young man rises highly a torch – an original symbol of energy, oath, lifelong service to the mankind. The girl has the Diploma of Master’s Degree in her palms. The given image means devotion to the profession of a pharmacist. This figure group of people in the clothes, which are waved by the wind, means triumph and confidence in the development of pharmacy in the world. The idea of the project is quite understood and even pathetical.
The slightly polished bronze figures with a dark colored globe and a bynda are successfully united here. A group of young people of cold yellow colour moves towards easily. The movement of the figures is also impacted by the lengthening of proportions and waved mantles and the rythms of the bynda. The exactness of the constractive approach united with different in volumes geometrical figures in the composition impresses every person greatly. Unsimiliarity of the scapes of the complex figures disturbes a little. There are not high pair of magisters and postures of “Panacea” and “A Chemist” of large sizes in the focus of the high multi-stepped postament. It should be mentioned that the artistic polishing and toning of the statues make the whole ensemble considered to be finished.
It is quite clear that the idea of inheritage of pharmacists different generations in the complex is more European than Ukrainian. It should be remembered that Kharkiv is the capital of Ukrainian pharmacy.
The territory around the sculptural complex (about 250 m x2) is layed with coloured decorative flagstones with well-choosen to match the warm color of the pedestal. Around the complex there are the lines of thua, fur trees and not high decorative pyramidal thuas, fur trees, pines. Modern architecture and landscape, its matching to the inscription “The National University of Pharmacy” underlines all the beauty and respect to this complex.
The architectural ensemble was represented in 350 years of Kharkiv and in honour of 200 years foundation of the highest pharmaceutical school in Ukraine. It is the only sculptural complex in the world devoted to the making popular the profession of a pharmacist.
Volodymir Putyatin.
The inscriptions on the architectural ensemble postaments.
(classic type, gold letters) on the postament of the central statue “Panacea”. On the red granite flagstone “Pharmacy in centuries” – the sculptural complex was opened on the 1 September, 2004 in honour to 350 years of Kharkiv and 200 years of the National University of Pharmacy”
“Panacea” is relative to Alma Mater from pharmaceutical unity and charity fund of graduates. The authors of the idea to create the project of “Pharmacy in centuries” are the Rector of the University V.P.Chernych, a sculptor S.A.Gubanov, an architector Schkkodovsre U.M. When creating the complex an active part was taken by Baschura Olexander Genadiovych, Grytsenko Ivan Semenovych, Dorovskyi Olexander Victorovych, Kantsedal Leonid Mychailovych, Gudzenko Olexander Pavlovich, Yaremchuck Olexander Aphonasiovych (Belarus), Prokopenko Tina Suleimanovna, Gluschko Sergiy Mykolayovych, Filschtynskyi Leonid Mychailovych. From the back side of the monument on the bronze board among the branches of fur trees there is an inscription:
Rectors of the National University of Pharmacy:
1921 – 1922 Mykola Ovksentiovych Valyaschko
1922-1930 Lev Kharitonovych Duchin
1930-1936 Mycola Ivanovych Pyrogov
1936-1937 Boris Mykolayovych Stanislavskyi
1937-1939 Terentiy Yakovych Kalinichenko
1939-1941 Ester Izraliyivna Alexentseva
1941-1942 Julian Galactynovych Borysuk
1942-1944 Maria Borysivna Volunska
1944-1959 Julian Galactynovych Borysuk
1959-1971 Grygory Prokopovych Pivnenko
1971-1980 Dmytro Pavlovych Salo
Inscriptions on the pedestals of separate parts of the complex
2 “A Chemist”
3 “Future of Pharmacy”
Full name and abbreviation
Baschura Olexander Genadiovych
Gurbanov Seyffaddin Ali-Ogli
Chernych Valentyn Petrovych
Schkodovsky Jury Mychailovych
NPhaU – the National University of Pharmacy