Among the cozy alleys of Shevchenko Park, you can spot a tiny bronze figure — the mini-sculpture “Kyiv Chess” from the well-known urban project “Seek”, created by Yuliia Bevzenko. It recalls another interesting page of Kyiv’s history — the city’s love for intellectual games.
According to legend, it was in this area, not far from the university, that students and professors often gathered in the 20th century to play chess outdoors. Brilliant games were born here, and sometimes friendly arguments turned into philosophical discussions.
The mini-sculpture was created to commemorate the tradition of Kyiv chess — a symbol of intellect, calmness, and the ability to think several steps ahead. On the tiny chessboard, you can see two pieces — a white one and a black one, reflecting the eternal opposition that is, at the same time, a game.
The Seek project brings together dozens of such mini-sculptures across Kyiv. Each of them has its own story — and together they create a living map of the city, where the past and present are united in dialogue and form a unique Kyiv atmosphere.
So if you are walking through the park, take a closer look — perhaps the “Kyiv Chess” sculpture is already waiting for you to take a selfie with it.