The Magnificent Eagle of Albania
A Symbol of Gratitude Forged from the Ashes of War
The “Magnificent Eagle of Albania” by Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) reinterprets the national emblem of Albania through the material reality of contemporary war.
Constructed from fragments of artillery shells and mines collected across Ukrainian battlefields, the work transforms a symbol of sovereignty into a gesture of gratitude.
The image is not applied.
It is assembled.
Materials & Technique
- Fragments of artillery shells, mines, and shrapnel.
- Hand-selected and assembled using electric welding.
- Multi-layered relief construction.
- Original forms preserved without reshaping.
- Created within the Ashes of War technique.
Key Details
- All fragments sourced from Ukrainian battlefields.
- No reshaping of elements — original forms preserved.
- The sculpture mounted on a base composed of welded artillery fragments.
Essay
The double-headed eagle is the central symbol of Albania — a sign of sovereignty, vigilance, and historical continuity.
In this work, it is reconstructed from fragments of weapons.
The material is not neutral.
It carries memory.
Each element retains its original form, selected rather than reshaped. What once belonged to destruction is brought into order, forming an image of strength and balance.
The work functions as a gesture — a response to solidarity.
A symbol of one nation is reassembled from the fragments of another’s war.
Mariia Universaliuk photographing in the artist’s workshop.
Odesa, Ukraine. 2024.
Press:
Featured in international media.
Details available upon request or in the Press section.
Dimensions: 70 × 70 cm (27⅗ × 27⅗ in)
Weight: approx. 25 kg
Provenance:
The Soul of Ukraine Foundation, Inc. (since creation)
“The Magnificent Eagle of Albania,” bas-relief sculpture in progress.
Odesa, Ukraine. 2023.
UKRINFORM report. Kyiv.