Kalevipoeg statue takes a step forward

  • 2007-01-31
  • By Joel Alas
TALLINN - Plans to erect a giant statue of the folk hero Kalevipoeg in the Bay of Tallinn have progressed, with Estonian sculptor Tauno Kangro being named the winner of a design competition.

Kangro's proposed design of a 21-meter Kalevipoeg emerging from the water was chosen ahead of two other entries.
His victory in the competition is unsurprising 's Kangro was the artist who originally suggested the statue, a proposal that gained momentum after he last year joined the Center Party, which holds power in the Tallinn City Council.
The two other submitted designs failed to meet the terms of the competition, according to a Council commission established to evaluate the statue proposals.

But curiously, the commission decided to award Kangro the second-place prize of 70,000 kroons (4,470 euros) 's rather than the first-place prize of 100,000 kroons - despite naming him the overall winner.
Kalevipoeg is Estonia's national folk hero, a mythical god-like man who endured conquests, fought battles, raped women and eventually saved the world from the devil by blocking the gates of hell.
His name continues to reverberate around the nation 's Kalev is one of the most popular male names, as well as Estonia's favorite brand of chocolate.

Kangro's bold proposal will see a Statue of Liberty-style metal sculpture of Kalevipoeg erected in the waters of the Bay of Tallinn, 100 meters from the shoreline in front of the Song Festival Grounds.
The Tallinn City Council hopes the statue will become a landmark and a tourist attraction.

The next phase will see public procurement tenders issued to find an engineer and builder to bring Kangro's design to life.
A scale model of the sculpture is now on display in the foyer of City Hall.