Could a symbol of the sea also symbolize love? Here, before you, stands the Ancre en forme de cœur, a heart-shaped anchor. The Ancre en forme de cœur is more than just a striking sculpture. It embodies a powerful message of friendship and connection between two port cities: Marseille and Odessa. This artwork isn’t originally from Marseille. It was a gift, a symbol of solidarity from Odessa, a city in Ukraine twinned with Marseille since 1972. Both cities share a deep-rooted love for the sea, a bond reflected in this unique sculpture. Odessa’s symbol is an anchor with inward-curling hooks that form a heart, much like the Ancre en forme de cœur you see before you. Gennadiy Trukhanov, Odessa’s mayor, gifted similar heart-anchor sculptures to several twin cities, including Istanbul, Regensburg, and Piraeus. The Ancre en forme de cœur, created by Ukrainian artist O.M. Shevchenko, stands over two meters tall, crafted from a copper alloy. Originally located at Prado seaside park, near the Roucas Blanc nautical base, it found a new home in front of Marseille’s City Hall in 2022, further solidifying the bond between the two cities. This relocation served as a poignant display of support for Ukraine during a time of conflict. The sculpture’s heart-shaped anchor serves as a symbol of hope and resilience, a testament to the enduring power of friendship across borders. The Ancre en forme de cœur, a gift from the heart of Odessa, continues to resonate with meaning here in Marseille, reminding us of the shared human connection that binds us together.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to