A caricature statue of Russian President Vladimir Putin was unveiled in Leopold Park in Brussels on Friday – exactly one year to the day after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to Belga News Agency, the red resin statue was created by French sculptor and street artist James Colomina; it has already been displayed in several different cities over the past year including Paris, Barcelona, London, and New York. For the anniversary of the invasion, Colomina thought it would be "interesting to bring [it] to Brussels, as a lot of things are decided here".
Colomina intentionally placed the statue, which depicts Putin riding a comically undersized tank, in a playground sandbox; the artist hopes this will serve to highlight both the "absurdity of war and the courage" shown by Ukrainian children.
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"There is a contrast between the sandbox and the dictator on his small tank," Colomina explained. "It's a slightly absurd image, but that's also what I wanted to show."
Colomina explained the red colour: "The sculptures that I install on the street are red. It is a colour that brings out emotions. It is a colour that is perfectly adapted to Vladimir Putin since it is the colour of blood, feelings, love, and violence."
