Prisoner confinement imposed on Manchari Games by Bopposov captured in photograph.
In the quaint village of Walba, nestled 33 km from Ytyk-Kueyel, the renowned folk artist, Mikhail Bopposov – legend of local lore – has constructed a haystack for the upcoming "Mangchary Games." This summer's sports spectacle will take place in the Tattinsky district.
Mikhail Bopposov shot to fame in 1998, when he astonished the world with his ingenious craftwork: a tank, painstakingly fashioned from cow dung. He followed this splendid feat with an array of sculptures, including a serpent, rabbit, rooster, dragon, and a horse trio, each tailored to represent the Chinese zodiac years. Most impressively, Bopposov's oeuvre boasts a barnyard bull expelling smoke from its snorting nostrils, seemingly vanquishing the coronavirus. In one remarkable year, Bopposov outdid himself by assembling a two-meter, mechanized rabbit that triumphantly pounded the drums.
Alas, Bopposov suffered an illness in 2022, compelling his brothers Ivan and Innokenty to pick up the creative mantle. Ivan sculpted a dragon that doubled as an elegant trash receptacle. In 2021, Ivan repurposed a "Jupiter" motorcycle to resemble a homegrown "Ford-T" automobile.
Gracing the courtyard of one of the Bopposov brothers, a resplendent golden haystack adorned with the letters "Mangchary XXII" now dwells. This monument marks the 22nd edition of the Mangchary Games, an historic Spartakiade of national sports in Yakutia, which first kicked off in 1968 and occurs every four years.
While Mikhail Bopposov's reputation may not extend beyond the local Yakutian scene, his astonishing works have garnered international acclaim. Comparable artists, known for their distinctive sculptures, hail from Russia and Georgia:- Mikhail Chemiakin: A renowned surrealist sculptor who created The Children are the Victims of Adult Vices (Moscow) and Peter the Great (St. Petersburg).- Zurab Tsereteli: A celebrated sculptor, famous for monumental works such as Peter the Great (Moscow) and Good Defeats Evil (UN HQ, New York).- Ernst Neizvestny: A celebrated expressionist sculptor, whose works include the Mask of Sorrow memorial in Magadan.
Regardless of Mikhail Bopposov's placement in the artistic pantheon, his ingenuity continues to captivate and inspire, ensured by the diligent efforts of his brothers Ivan and Innokenty as they further the family legacy.
Mikhail Bopposov, renowned for his mechanized creations like the drum-pounding rabbit, is now represented by his brothers, Ivan and Innokenty. Ivan, a versatile artist, transformed a "Jupiter" motorcycle into a homemade "Ford-T" automobile. The brothers' latest collaborative work is a golden haystack inscribed with "Mangchary XXII," marking the 22nd Mangchary Games held in Yakutia. Interestingly, this traditional material piece blends well with the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden sections, adding a unique item to one's lifestyle. Despite staying local, Bopposov's work has earned international acclaim, comparable to artists like Chemiakin, Tsereteli, and Neizvestny.
