Apple tree

According to the recollections of local residents, in the first years since the founding of Almetyevsk, many fruit seedlings were planted here to beautify the city. Even the name Almetyevsk retained a semantic connection with trees: «alma» is translated from Tatar as «apple tree». The apple tree symbolizes caring for your own city. That's why Maxim Svishchev used the image of an apple tree, well known to Almetyevsk residents, for his new art object, rethinking it in his own abstract manner, thus a new city symbol emerged.

An apple tree is one of the key images for the «Tales of Golden Apples» public art program, which is apparent from its very name. It has also been used in other art projects in previous years. For instance, the mural «Care» by Marat Morik from the Czech Republic depicts the cultivation of an apple orchard. This work was painted on a building near Yashlek Square. Also, the diptych «The History of Apples» by the Italian artist Hitnes artistically interprets the folklore and history of the city.

Green Almetyevsk, Chekhov Street, 1986. Archival photo from the Almet News group.

Yashlek Square is a magnet for people of all ages. Young families with children stroll around, groups of teenagers gather and pensioners rest on benches. Before starting to work on the sculpture, Maxim Svishchev carefully examined the site. As a result of his observations, the author concluded that the rectilinear square needs to be augmented by soft rounded shapes for balance. The «Apple Tree» art object is made up of circles and semicircles.

The artist first created a 3D model – a smaller copy of the sculpture. Then came a drawing, according to which a full-size frame filled with polystyrene foam was made. Later it was covered with fiberglass. When the material dried, the foam was removed, and the sculpture became hollow inside. It was then carefully polished, the parts were tightened against each other, and the entire art piece was painted with a spray gun.

In the fall of 2023, the sculpture was installed in Yashlek Square with the participation of actors from the Light Wings Street Theater. Children from a nearby school came running to this event, as if symbolically referring to the meaning of the Tatar fairy tale about golden apples.

The art object was harmoniously integrated into the space of the square. The sculpture is clearly visible from afar, but is just as interesting to examine up close. Thus, the «Apple Tree» became a new symbol of the microdistrict and reminds people of the historical significance of these trees, of which there are so many in Almetyevsk.

Opening of the «Apple Tree».