Mask of the War God
A Civilization Reassembled from the Debris of War
The “Mask of the War God” by Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) reinterprets an ancient image of power through the material of contemporary conflict.
Based on the funerary mask of the Maya ruler Itzam Kokaj Bahlam, the work reconstructs a symbol of a lost civilisation using fragments of modern warfare.
The image is not reproduced.
It is reassembled.
Materials & Technique
- Fragments of combat artillery mines.
- Hand-cut and assembled using electric welding.
- Multi-element construction.
- Original forms preserved.
- Created within the Ashes of War technique.
Key Details
- Created in Odesa, Ukraine, 2024.
- Developed in collaboration with master welder Viktor Bielchyk.
- Based on the jade funerary mask of a Maya ruler.
- Mounted on a base composed of fragmented war debris.
Essay
The original mask belonged to a ruler of the ancient Maya civilisation.
It was made of jade — a material associated with life, eternity, and divine authority.
In this work, that image is reconstructed from fragments of weapons.
The material is reversed.
The meaning is transformed.
What once signified power through sacred permanence is now assembled from the remnants of destruction. The mask no longer belongs to a single ruler or a distant past — it becomes a reflection of civilisation itself under the pressure of war.
Ancient order and modern chaos meet within a single form.
Sergey Melnikoff and Viktor Bielchyk assembling the sculpture in the workshop.
Odesa, Ukraine.
Dimensions: 63 х 43 (25 x 17 in)
Weight: approx. 25 kg
Provenance:
The Soul of Ukraine Foundation, Inc. (since creation)
The sculpture mounted on a base composed of fragmented war debris.