The Magnificent Eagle of Albania

Details

THE MAGNIFICENT EAGLE OF ALBANIA
The sculpture of a double-headed eagle, forged from the “ashes of war,” faithfully recreates the National Emblem of the Republic of Albania.

Dimensions: 70 x 70 cm | 27⅗ x 27⅗ in
Gross Weight: ~25 kg

Provenance

The Author: Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) in collaboration with Ukrainian welder Viktor Bielchyk.
This work of art was created in Odesa, Ukraine, in 2023, during a critical phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Further Details

The eagle sculpture is mounted on a base made from large fragments of artillery shells, welded together into a single solid structure.
Both the eagle and its base are separate components, joined mechanically: the eagle’s tail transitions into a rod that fits securely into a square sleeve within the base, assembled from artillery fragments.
The shards used in the sculpture have a distinctive shape, reminiscent of feathers. These fragments form the parts of the sculpture that mimic the plumage of a majestic bird.

The Magnificent Eagle of Albania

A Monument of Gratitude, Resilience, and Art Forged in War

By Gëzim Alpion

In the crucible of war, where destruction lays bare the soul of a nation, artists sometimes find the most profound and paradoxical materials for creation. From the shattered steel of artillery shells and the scorched remains of exploded mines—fragments once meant only to maim and destroy—a different kind of weapon has been forged: one of gratitude, memory, and artistic triumph. This is the Magnificent Eagle of Albania.

Crafted in Ukraine from the physical remnants of the country’s struggle against the brutal invasion by the Russian Federation, this sculpture stands as a powerful embodiment of both resistance and reverence. It is more than a sculpture; it is a manifesto. Not only does it pay tribute to the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people, but it also expresses deep and heartfelt appreciation toward the Republic of Albania—a nation that has offered steadfast political and humanitarian support to Ukraine during its darkest hours.

The eagle is a figure of enduring strength, and in Albania, the two-headed eagle occupies an especially revered place. It is the central image on the national flag and coat of arms, a symbol that dates back to the time of the Byzantine Empire and Skanderbeg, Albania’s greatest historical hero. By choosing to recreate this emblem from the “ashes of war,” American artist Sergey Melnikoff, working alongside master welder Viktor Bielchyk, has transformed the iconic symbol of Albania into a sacred gift from one people to another.

The sculpture The Magnificent Eagle of Albania is created using a unique technique. The eagle is made from fragments of artillery shells and mines collected from active combat zones across Ukraine.

The sculpture takes the form of a high-relief bas-relief, with every shard of metal a survivor of combat. Each piece—once part of a weapon of death—is now reborn as a part of a majestic, soaring eagle. The bird’s wings and torso are composed of shell fragments whose jagged outlines eerily resemble feathers. Even more remarkable is the craftsmanship involved in shaping the head, talons, and legs. But here lies the truly unique element of the Magnificent Eagle: not a single fragment has been altered. Nothing has been cut, reshaped, or bent to fit. The artist and welder painstakingly selected each piece from countless thousands of battlefield remnants, identifying and arranging them to form naturalistic features—claws, beaks, pads, and more—without modifying the fragments. This approach elevates the sculpture into the rare category of found-object masterpieces, an art form where creativity resides not in molding but in perceiving and assembling beauty from chaos.

As a national symbol, the two-headed eagle represents not only Albania’s sovereignty but also its cultural legacy and strategic vigilance, looking both East and West. Through this sculpture, Ukraine honors Albania’s historical identity while infusing the emblem with a fresh layer of meaning: solidarity between nations small in size but mighty in dignity, fierce in independence, and unflinching in the face of tyranny.

Politically, the symbolism could not be more apt. The Magnificent Eagle of Albania is envisioned as a diplomatic and cultural gift to the Albanian people on behalf of the Ukrainian nation. It is a thank-you forged not in bronze or marble, but in the raw, violent steel of war. Its message is unambiguous: “We remember who stood with us. We honor you not only in words, but through art born of our shared values and collective resilience.”

The sculpture The Magnificent Eagle of Albania was unveiled at a press conference of the Soul of Ukraine, an International Charitable Foundation. The event was dedicated to a project to establish the Mother Teresa Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Albania for Ukrainian children who lost limbs and became disabled as a result of the war unleashed by the Russian Federation against the peaceful state of Ukraine.
From left to right: Sergey Melnikoff, founder of the Soul of Ukraine Foundation; Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees; Ihor Kurylov, Director of the National Honored Academic Ukrainian Folk Choir named after Hryhoriy Veryovka and a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Kyiv, November 2, 2023

This powerful gesture gains even greater resonance in light of the personal identity of Albania’s current Prime Minister, Edi Rama. A statesman of high regard in Europe, Rama is also an accomplished visual artist. His voice has been among the clearest at the United Nations in condemning Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine and defending democratic values. He is a leader who will recognize not just the political symbolism of the sculpture, but also its artistic excellence. For a leader who moves seamlessly between canvases and parliaments, this eagle—wrought from suffering, yet majestic in form—may speak louder than a thousand speeches.

Beyond the immediate political and artistic impact, the Magnificent Eagle of Albania opens a deeper philosophical conversation about the transformation of violence into beauty, destruction into memory, and war into cultural legacy. It stands as a testimony to the ability of art to defy annihilation. Every shard used in the eagle once carried death; now, they carry meaning. Each jagged contour, each twisted rib of metal, now sings with purpose and grace.

In gifting this eagle to Albania, Ukraine is also making a promise to itself and to the world. That even in the worst of times, the Ukrainian people will create. They will honor. They will remember. And they will never forget who extended a hand when they were being pushed to their knees.

The Magnificent Eagle of Albania is not just an artwork—it is a story cast in steel. A story of two nations bound by shared convictions. A story where tragedy does not suffocate, but inspires. A story that soars.

The Magnificent Eagle of Albania

In homage to Albania’s noble contribution to the cause of peace in Ukraine, artist Sergey Melnikoff has sculpted a majestic two-headed eagle—its form mirroring the national emblem of the Republic of Albania. He named it The Magnificent Eagle of Albania, a powerful symbol of the unbreakable bond born of shared courage in the crucible of war.

Forged from the jagged remnants of mines and artillery shells, this singular work of contemporary art transforms instruments of destruction into a testament of unity and resilience.

The sculpture stands as a symbolic offering within a greater vision: the creation of an International Rehabilitation Center in Albania for Ukrainian children—a sanctuary of hope for young souls who lost their limbs under the merciless rain of Russian bombs.

Artworks by MFF are accompanied by an original certificate of authenticity, laser-engraved on an A4-sized stainless steel plate. The plate is mounted on an elegant base made of fine hardwood.