GRIFFITHS: Muscovites share their city with some stunning monuments. Some of them are so big theyre impossible to miss. 00:16
They pay tribute to war. To friendship. They honour the tsars. And celebrate Russian fairytales. 00:28
Theyre the backdrop of everyday life in Moscow. 00:42
GRIFFITHS: Theyre also the target of deep felt derision. 00:54
Vox pop 1: The monument is heaped up on itself. Frankly speaking, it is heavy, very domineering. Theres nothing here to do with fun! 01:02
Vox pop 2: Its like an occupation. An occupation of our Moscow by alien forms. 01:19
Music 01:27
GRIFFITHS: These aliens have filled vacancies left open at the end of the Soviet Union. 01:32
Lenin came down and hundreds of new sculptures went up. The citys had a facelift. And Muscovites owe it all to one man. 01:41
Emma: Hello, nice to meet you.Zurab: Its good to see you. Lets walk around and Ill show you everything. 01:54
GRIFFITHS: Zurab Tsereteli is one of the worlds most prolific artists. The former stables of Russias royal family are barely big enough to house his latest exhibition. 02:03
It takes a small army to set up Tseretelis collection. Nothing and no-one seem to have escaped his creative gaze: religious figures, politicians, writers you name it, hes done it. 02:16
Lying around the corner, theres even a bronze Princess Diana. 02:32
Emma: Everyones here. Zurab: Yes, everyones here but I try to add more. Here is St George. 02:38
Music 02:45
GRIFFITHS: Zurab Tsereteli is best known for populating his home city with some colossal characters. 02:51
For this artist, size does matter. His depiction of Tsar Peter the Great towers ninety-six metres above the Moscow River. 03:00
Zurab: That hand is okay. Everythings okay. Just set it up in a proper way so that I can see all the angles. 03:10
GRIFFITHS: Ever since it appeared in the mid-90s Tseretelis Peter has been widely despised. Once, someone even tried to blow it up. Now its many opponents live in hope that the bronze giant will one day be moved. 03:23
Vox pop: I ignore it, frankly speaking. That is the best thing I can do. If you cant fight something bad, its better to ignore it. 03:43
Vox pop 2: Russia is a country of advanced art and we would like to continue being proud of it. Our city is very beautiful and we would prefer that it wasnt spoilt by such out of place monuments. 03:57
GRIFFITHS: Tseretelis arch enemy is art critic Marat Gelman. He believes Moscow has become a Tsereteli theme park. And Peter the Great is some sort of horror show. 04:18
Gelman: Of course it is bad art, it is combination between fake Russian kitsch from the beginning of century, for example, if you have seen candelabras, but very big, big scale. From another side it looks like childrens toys. 04:29
GRIFFITHS: The artist is accustomed to such scalding reviews. But hes still offended. 04:53
Zurab: Many people have apologised for criticising it. Its not uncommon. A similar situation occurred with the Eiffel Tower and the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. 05:00
GRIFFITHS: Tsereteli prefers praise. Especially from his friends in high places. 05:18
His admirers include Vladimir Putin, Prince Charles and Liza Minnelli. 05:26
Today the sculptor has granted an audience to a doting German princess. 05:32
Princess: I would like to know how these huge sculptures are made. 05:38
GRIFFITHS: But arguably the artists most influential fan is the mayor of Moscow. Yuri Luzhkov likes Tseretelis work and what he likes Moscow gets.Gelman: Moscow is like bedroom of Luzhkov. 05:45
Because politics [sic - he means politicians] have right to have bad taste, but he can develop this bad taste in his bedroom, to buy picture of Tsereteli and put in his private apartments. Not to make this terrible taste like present for all of us. 06:02
GRIFFITHS: The gifts keep coming. The controversy whirling around him hasnt sapped Tseretelis creative drive. 06:22
Tsereteli: One should appreciate creators. Its not easy it requires a great deal of energy. And besides, it is impossible to assess art instantly. You need time. 06:33
Music 06:51
GRIFFITHS: Muscovites dont need any more time to see that Tsereteli has redrawn their citys skyline. Theyre just waiting for Moscows artist in residence to conjure up the citys next new landmark. 07:03
Credits: Reporter: Emma GriffithsCamera: Louie ErogluEditor: Simon BrynjolffssenProducer: Olga Pavlova
They pay tribute to war. To friendship. They honour the tsars. And celebrate Russian fairytales. 00:28
Theyre the backdrop of everyday life in Moscow. 00:42
GRIFFITHS: Theyre also the target of deep felt derision. 00:54
Vox pop 1: The monument is heaped up on itself. Frankly speaking, it is heavy, very domineering. Theres nothing here to do with fun! 01:02
Vox pop 2: Its like an occupation. An occupation of our Moscow by alien forms. 01:19
Music 01:27
GRIFFITHS: These aliens have filled vacancies left open at the end of the Soviet Union. 01:32
Lenin came down and hundreds of new sculptures went up. The citys had a facelift. And Muscovites owe it all to one man. 01:41
Emma: Hello, nice to meet you.Zurab: Its good to see you. Lets walk around and Ill show you everything. 01:54
GRIFFITHS: Zurab Tsereteli is one of the worlds most prolific artists. The former stables of Russias royal family are barely big enough to house his latest exhibition. 02:03
It takes a small army to set up Tseretelis collection. Nothing and no-one seem to have escaped his creative gaze: religious figures, politicians, writers you name it, hes done it. 02:16
Lying around the corner, theres even a bronze Princess Diana. 02:32
Emma: Everyones here. Zurab: Yes, everyones here but I try to add more. Here is St George. 02:38
Music 02:45
GRIFFITHS: Zurab Tsereteli is best known for populating his home city with some colossal characters. 02:51
For this artist, size does matter. His depiction of Tsar Peter the Great towers ninety-six metres above the Moscow River. 03:00
Zurab: That hand is okay. Everythings okay. Just set it up in a proper way so that I can see all the angles. 03:10
GRIFFITHS: Ever since it appeared in the mid-90s Tseretelis Peter has been widely despised. Once, someone even tried to blow it up. Now its many opponents live in hope that the bronze giant will one day be moved. 03:23
Vox pop: I ignore it, frankly speaking. That is the best thing I can do. If you cant fight something bad, its better to ignore it. 03:43
Vox pop 2: Russia is a country of advanced art and we would like to continue being proud of it. Our city is very beautiful and we would prefer that it wasnt spoilt by such out of place monuments. 03:57
GRIFFITHS: Tseretelis arch enemy is art critic Marat Gelman. He believes Moscow has become a Tsereteli theme park. And Peter the Great is some sort of horror show. 04:18
Gelman: Of course it is bad art, it is combination between fake Russian kitsch from the beginning of century, for example, if you have seen candelabras, but very big, big scale. From another side it looks like childrens toys. 04:29
GRIFFITHS: The artist is accustomed to such scalding reviews. But hes still offended. 04:53
Zurab: Many people have apologised for criticising it. Its not uncommon. A similar situation occurred with the Eiffel Tower and the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. 05:00
GRIFFITHS: Tsereteli prefers praise. Especially from his friends in high places. 05:18
His admirers include Vladimir Putin, Prince Charles and Liza Minnelli. 05:26
Today the sculptor has granted an audience to a doting German princess. 05:32
Princess: I would like to know how these huge sculptures are made. 05:38
GRIFFITHS: But arguably the artists most influential fan is the mayor of Moscow. Yuri Luzhkov likes Tseretelis work and what he likes Moscow gets.Gelman: Moscow is like bedroom of Luzhkov. 05:45
Because politics [sic - he means politicians] have right to have bad taste, but he can develop this bad taste in his bedroom, to buy picture of Tsereteli and put in his private apartments. Not to make this terrible taste like present for all of us. 06:02
GRIFFITHS: The gifts keep coming. The controversy whirling around him hasnt sapped Tseretelis creative drive. 06:22
Tsereteli: One should appreciate creators. Its not easy it requires a great deal of energy. And besides, it is impossible to assess art instantly. You need time. 06:33
Music 06:51
GRIFFITHS: Muscovites dont need any more time to see that Tsereteli has redrawn their citys skyline. Theyre just waiting for Moscows artist in residence to conjure up the citys next new landmark. 07:03
Credits: Reporter: Emma GriffithsCamera: Louie ErogluEditor: Simon BrynjolffssenProducer: Olga Pavlova