ANU unveils gift of Pushkin bust

A bust of the founder of modern Russian literature has been gifted to the Australian National University by the Russian Government.

The bust of the highly esteemed Russian poet, playwright and novelist Alexander Pushkin was given to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Russia-Australia diplomatic relations. 

At the unveiling ceremony, His Excellency Mr Grigory Logvinov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Commonwealth of Australia, quoted prominent Russian literature critic Apollon Grigoryev, who said that “Pushkin is our everything”. 

It is a very happy occasion, he said, “Under today's turbulent political situation in the world, to attend such a pleasant ceremony, to unveil a bust of the great – well not just great, the greatest – Russian poet, novelist and playwright, Alexander Pushkin.”

“Works by Alexander Pushkin are in Russian and require translation. [However] the ideas of love, friendship and freedom are understandable for everyone.”

The Ambassador also presented a commemorative medal for Consolidation of International Cultural Cooperation to Chancellor Evans. According to the Ambassador, the medal, which was from the Pushkin Section of the Writer's Union of Russia, has been presented to various foreign ministers, world politicians, and scientists. Among Russians however, only Russian President Vladimir Putin has received the medal. 

ANU Chancellor Gareth Evans gratefully accepted the medal and the gift with deep honour; the latter on behalf of the University. He echoed the Ambassador’s remarks about this being a delicate time for the Australia-Russia relationship, citing tensions over different parts of the world, the shooting down of flight MH17, and “possible undue influence in US elections”. 

All that frankly acknowledged, he added, “if we want a safer, saner, more peaceful, just and prosperous world, the beginning of wisdom in managing international relations […] [is] to always be willing to identify that which unites us, and to find whatever common ground there might be on which to lay the foundations for more cooperative action.”

“One obvious channel for developing that common ground and understanding is in the area of national culture, for which - in the case of Russia - there continues to be profound respect in Australia, and certainly from me personally.”

Helping to round out the event was Dr Ksenia Gnevsheva, convenor of the Russian Studies program at ANU. Dr Ksenia read out a poem by Pushkin called ‘The Monument’ – in English.

The bust of Alexander Pushkin is housed within the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. It sits next to the library housing Russian literature and outside the office of the convenor of the Russian Studies program, on Level 3 of the Baldessin Building.