This is a monument in Ukmerge, Lithuania. Originally it was standing on the main square right in front of the municipality building in the city center. But when the Soviets were kicked out in 1991, the Lithuanians decided it was time to kick this monument as well, so they moved it.
But where to? Because, well, maybe it was placed by the wrong people, but the monument itself was not so bad after all. So instead of throwing it in the dump, they moved it to about 500 meters down the road towards Kaunas. Not the prime location where it was before, but still not a bad place. Very visible for all traffic between Ukmerge and Kaunas.
It has been standing there since 1992, They maintained the small plot of grass around the monument and they even added a sign that explains the history of the monument. Until February 2022 when they decided it was time for a little paint job. Instead of being a relic from the past, the monument is again the living expression of todays real-world.
You see the slightly lighter yellow patch on the knees in the middle? That’s where somebody painted a white ‘Z’, and then the Z was covered with yellow again one day later.
What about the empty spot on the main square in the city center? This is what they placed there.
With the Russians gone you might think the days of brutalist design were over as well, but no…
