On June 12, 1996, in Magadan on Mount Krutaya, a monument to the victims of political repressions of the 1930s-1950s called "Mask of Sorrow" was unveiled. Previously, a camp was located at the foot of this mountain, from where prisoners were sent to Kolyma.

History of Creation

In the summer of 1990, sculptor Ernst Neizvestny, living in the USA, came to Magadan. He brought slides with a sketch of the monument dedicated to the victims of Stalin's repressions. It was planned that this monument would be the first in the "Triangle of Suffering" (Magadan, Vorkuta, Yekaterinburg), conceived by the sculptor. On July 23, 1990, the Magadan City Executive Committee decided to create a Memorial to the victims of Stalin's repressions.

The project was realized thanks to the efforts of Ernst Neizvestny and Magadan architect Kamil Kazayev. On February 12, 1992, Father Sergey, a priest of the Magadan church, consecrated the site at the top of the mountain.

Description of the Monument

The monument is located at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level. The "Mask" is installed on a pedestal with an area of 56 square meters made of monolithic reinforced concrete. The height of the monument is 18.5 meters, and it is accessed by 100 steps.

The "Mask of Sorrow" combines elements of classicism and abstractionism. On the left side of the "Mask" is depicted a hemisphere of the brain, symbolizing memory. The mask forms a cross, with a tear flowing from the left eye in the shape of human heads. An improvised bell is located in the right eye socket, beneath it, the prisoner number 937. On the reverse side of the "Mask," in a niche, there is a non-canonical crucifix and a sculpture of a crying woman made of bronze, symbolizing suffering.

Inside the monument, a corner of the camp cemetery and a solitary cell have been recreated. Symbols of various faiths and Soviet symbolism are engraved on the stones along the staircase: a cross, Star of David, crescent moon, sickle, and hammer.

On the viewing platform in front of the monument, 11 concrete blocks are installed with the names of Kolyma Gulag camps: Maldyak, Butugychag, Henikandzha, Dzelgala, Elgen, Dneprovsky, Serpantinka, Severny, Maglag, Canyon, Dagger.

The bell inside the "Mask" swings in the wind, creating a requiem for all those who suffered during the years of Stalin's repressions. The sculptor explained that this is a monument to the suffering of the soul.

At the lower platform at the beginning of the steps, a commemorative plaque is installed with the inscription: "The Memorial to the victims of political repressions was built in 1996 with funds from the President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, the Government of Russia, the administrations of Magadan and St. Petersburg, Maksoctbank, the publishing house Bibliopolis, and citizens of Russia and abroad." Funds for the creation of the monument were also allocated by the administration of the sister city Anchorage (USA) and the sculptor himself.