On April 12, 1961, humankind managed to take a big step. Soviet space pilot Yuri Gagarin, inside Vostok 1, became the first human being to leave the atmosphere and orbit the Earth. This year, the world commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of this great moment that has inspired generations around the planet to continue exploring the frontiers of space.
During this celebration, the city received, through the Planetarium of Bogotá, a bust of Gagarin donated by the International Foundation for Public Charity – Dialogue of Cultures – United World.
The bust of the Russian cosmonaut will remain in the Planetarium thanks to the work of the Embassy of Russia in Colombia, to the Department of International Relations of the Bogotá Mayor’s Office and to the Idartes International, a window to the world project.
“Today we join again the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of humankind in space and we receive this donation for the city of Bogotá. We thank the Russian Embassy in Colombia for their support in this process, we hope to continue building bridges to strengthen art and culture in our city”, said Catalina Valencia, director of Idartes during the installation ceremony that took place on Tuesday, August 2, and also included the participation of the Russian Ambassador Nikolay Tavdumadze, the Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchijin, who is currently on a special visit to Colombia, and Anastasia Belousova, doctor of Russian Literature and professor at the National University.
According to Ruslan Baymarov, president of the Foundation, “these busts and statues – which are found throughout the world – are expected to remind us that we are part of a whole and that we have much more in common than differences marking us”. Therefore, Colombia is now one of the 60 countries that have received this bust, created by the Ukrainian sculptor Alexey Leonov.
In the event, which is added to the list of activities commemorating the Bogotá founding, 483 years ago, attendees were able to enjoy a recital by the writer Anastasia Belousova of the poem I am Gagarin, son of the Earth by the poet Yevgeni Yevtushenko.
With an emotional ribbon cutting, the Gagarin bust was officially welcomed to its new home in Colombia: the Planetarium of Bogotá.