Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) demonstrates the central section of the inscription Allah al-Akbar (Allah Is Great).
Photo by Mariia Universaliuk
Details
ALLAH AL-AKBAR
Forged from materials that once served destructive purposes, Allah al-Akbar transforms relics of conflict into a message of hope.
The artist gathers and purifies fragments of war and reshapes them into a calligraphic tribute to the Holy Name of Allah.
Here, the metal of destruction becomes a vessel of remembrance, respect and spiritual light.
Dimensions: 95 x 95 cm | 37⅗ x 37⅗ in
Gross Weight: ~25 kg
Provenance
The Author: Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) in collaboration with Ukrainian welder Viktor Bielchyk.
This work of art is currently being created in Odesa, Ukraine, during a critical phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2025.
Further Details
- The foundation of the artwork is created using the artist’s signature technique, Ashes of War. It is fashioned from cut sections of 23 mm cannon casings collected on the front line, reshaped into soft, flowing forms, and will be plated with nickel, copper and chrome.
- The double frame in traditional Islamic aesthetic is being created from authentic fragments of artillery shells and mortar rounds, welded by hand into an ornamental geometric structure made of thousands of circular cartridge bases. This structure will be finished in nickel and 24-karat gold.
- Inside the frame, the sacred words Allah al-Akbar are already composed in Arabic calligraphy from hundreds of micro-fragments of shrapnel. The entire inscription will be finished in 999.9 pure gold, symbolising purity, eternity and the light of divine guidance.
Allah al-Akbar is a visual prayer.
A gesture of respect towards the Islamic world.
A bridge between East and West.
A union of suffering and hope.
In every fragment of metal lies the memory of destruction.
In every letter of pure gold shines the testimony:
Allah is indeed Great.
Sergey Melnikoff (MFF) and the renowned Ukrainian master-welder Viktor Bielchyk during the creation of Allah al-Akbar.
Odesa, November 2025
Photo by Mariia Universaliuk
The Artist’s Moral Right to Address the Islamic World
Sergey Melnikoff is not an outside observer.
His extraordinary life has made him a bridge between cultures, religions and nations.
As the founder of the Soul of Ukraine, an International Charitable Foundation, he has spent decades realising humanitarian and intercultural projects dedicated to human dignity and spiritual unity.
He has been awarded the highest order of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Qoman Turpal, and the title of National Hero.
By decree of Prime Minister Akhmed Zakayev, he represents the Chechen nation at international forums.
He serves as a member of the Council of Chechen Elders in Europe and as the Honorary Consul of Ichkeria in the United States.
An American artist descended from an ancient family of Zaporozhian Cossacks, he has been awarded with the highest orders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Patriarch Filaret.
His contribution to global contemporary art has been recognised by numerous cultural and religious institutions, making him the most decorated artist and photographer of his time.
Having endured the darkness of Soviet prison camps and escaped communist tyranny, and standing firmly with the Caucasian peoples in their resistance to Russian occupation, Melnikoff has become a natural bridge between Christian and Muslim civilisations.
This grants him the moral right to speak the artistic language of the East and to approach the sacred words of the Qur’an with the utmost respect and reverence.
The 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
Allah al-Akbar
A Contemporary Masterpiece Created in Honour of the Divine Name.
IN PROGRESS
This page will be updated as the artwork Allah al-Akbar (Allah Is Great) progresses.
Last updated on November 29, 2025
When Art Becomes an Act of Devotion
Some works of art carry within them more than beauty.
Some creations become a bridge to the Eternal.
They reflect the light of faith at moments when the world is overshadowed by darkness.
Allah al-Akbar is one such work: a piece at the intersection of spirituality, craftsmanship and humanitarian purpose.
It is not merely an artwork.
It is an offering.
A visual expression of reverence for the greatness of the Almighty.
Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria to Sergey Melnikoff, conveying the Ichkerian government’s official support for the Allah al-Acbar art project.
The construction principle of the artwork.
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Currently, the market value of MFF’s works from the Ashes of War series is estimated by experts to range from $150,000 to $1,000,000, depending on the size, materials used, symbolic impact, and associated narrative.
It is widely expected that following the end of the war and the cementing of these works’ historical importance, their value will rise exponentially, especially among collectors, investors, and museums worldwide.
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