Formula of Sorrow, Holocaust memorial in Saint Petersburg, Russia
The memorial features a 240 centimeter bronze figure kneeling in a pose of prayer, with head bowed and hands folded upon a triangular granite base. Inscriptions carved into granite plates appear in both Hebrew and Russian.
The memorial was created to honor 250 Jewish people executed by Nazi forces in Pushkin in 1941 during World War II. Artist Vadim Sidur designed this work to remember the human losses of that period.
The sculpture portrays an abstract human form frozen in grief, using geometric shapes to convey deep loss and sorrow. The pairing of bronze and granite creates a powerful visual statement that stops visitors in their tracks.
The site sits at the intersection of Dvortsovaya and Moskovskaya Streets and is easy to reach on foot. Plan enough time to read the inscriptions and details without rushing.
Artist Vadim Sidur was himself a survivor of war trauma and brought his personal experience into this work. His abstract design allows visitors to project their own feelings of grief and loss onto the sculpture.
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