Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Russian artist Grigory Potosky. - Contributed

The image of Bob Marley has been reproduced in countless forms. However, few are as striking as the bronze sculpture made by world-famous Russian artist Grigory Potosky.

The Gleaner sat with the Russian genius recently, along with his art director Olga Barre, at the Russian Embassy in Norbrook, St. Andrew. One of Potosky's favourite works, the Bob Marley statue is a symbol of peace and freedom that he has generously donated to the Government of Jamaica. With his hand on a guitar, his locks flung in the wind and a single lock curled as a halo around Bob's head, the sculpture is a monument to a man who helped spread the message of peace.

According to Potosky, "I created the symbol of Bob Marley. The crimes of white people/race to the black people are limitless - terrible crimes with no exit from the situation. Bob Marley said a very interesting thing, that black people should follow the way of Jesus Christ. I understand Bob Marley to be an apostle; he finds answers how to make friendships between people. That's why I choose him as a contemporary of this time. This sculpture is a song, a song of Bob Marley to humanity."

The president of the Academy of Kindness, Potosky uses his art to help influence peace across the world. The Bob Marley monument is one of many statues that the Russian has made as gifts to various countries. Potosky has also presented 'Gratitude to America. America - Victory' to the United States, a monument of Russian writer A.S. Pushkin to the city of Minsk, Belarus, and countless other monuments to great figures across the globe from Japan to Macedonia and back.

The Bob Marley statue was originally shown at one of the biggest art conventions in Russia. From there it has travelled across the globe to different displays and has garnered much attention before finding its final resting place in Jamaica. At present the statue is in the care of the Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, who will decide where it is placed.

Debut the statue next year in Jamaica

Potosky met with Mrs. Rita Marley, who is reportedly a great admirer of the statue, last Wednesday. Potosky relates that Rita Marley hopes to officially debut the statue next year during the Bob Marley celebrations in Jamaica.

It took Potosky one year to create his masterpiece, but for him it was worth the effort. "I have met with many outstanding people and Bob Marley is in line with them. In the world there are a lot of heroes, but they have had to shed the blood of other people. Bob Marley and Gandhi found the way to create peace without blood or victims. They are heroes of our time. His music is unique and known in every country of the world. He is a hero without question," Potosky said.

This was Potosky's first visit to Jamaica, which he describes as a country full of smiling people. Having travelled to Marley's homeland, he is more understanding of the man himself. After Jamaica, the Russian is off to continue his mission of peace through art in America and then Canada.

The bronze sculpture of Bob Marley made by Russian artist Grigory Potosky. He describes it as a song to humanity.