David Gorodensky

The military commander of Hrodna Castle in the early 14th century – there is little historical information about him, but quite a few myths. That’s precisely what makes him interesting to an artist. What is known is that he fought against the Teutonic Knights and spent his entire life in battles. He is a highly symbolic figure for the Hrodna region. One of the unverified myths claims he lost his entire family in this conflict. In this sculpture, he is depicted as a weary warrior, doomed to endless war. The interpretation of form and stylization is rooted in medieval imagery – deliberately monolithic, avoiding excessive detail. In a way, he is a biblical David, but the David of the Hrodna lands. This work became the prototype for a large monument installed in Hrodna in 2018.