Ijik, Bronze sculpture in Central Square, Russia
Ijik is a bronze sculpture standing in Central Square in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurt Republic in Russia. The figure stands outdoors in an open setting, accessible from all sides, so visitors can walk around and view it from any angle.
The sculpture was made after the end of the Soviet Union, when many cities in Russia began giving more visibility to indigenous cultures in their public spaces. Its placement in the center of Izhevsk reflects a deliberate choice to bring Udmurt heritage into the city's everyday landscape.
Ijik is a figure from the mythology of the Udmurt people, an indigenous group native to the Udmurt Republic. Visitors who stop here often notice that the work feels less like a generic public monument and more like a local symbol tied to a specific community.
The square is easy to reach on foot and the sculpture is clearly visible from the surrounding paths. Morning light tends to bring out the texture of the bronze surface most clearly.
Ijik is the name of a figure from Udmurt oral tradition, often described as a friendly spirit connected to nature. Standing in the center of a major Russian city, the sculpture is a quiet reminder that Izhevsk is also the capital of a people with their own living language and traditions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
