Monument to the Lover in Tomsk: History and Location

• The figure depicts a man in his underwear clinging to a window ledge.
• Oleg Kislitsky described it as a caricature of a lover and a humorous sculpture.
• The idea came about while preparing an early erotic art exhibition in Siberia.
• Over the years, the figure moved between buildings in Tomsk before later hanging on the façade of the Museum of the History of Tomsk.
• It has not been seen on that façade since early 2024.
• On December 16, 2025, it was reported to have been restored and preserved in the artist’s workshop; no new public display location had been found by then.

The sculpture depicts a man dangling from a ledge in his underwear. Designed as an exaggerated everyday scene, it plays on the idea of a secret lover. Its unusual appearance made it a recognizable city landmark, even though it is not a large, freestanding statue. Looking back, Kislitsky explained that the basic idea came from a conversation about protecting sculptures from damage: a figure placed high on a balcony or cornice would be harder to reach.

The idea was brought to life in the 2000s for a preparatory exhibition for the early Siberian erotic art show “E-ros-gildyai.” Kislitsky and fellow artists Boris Pertsev and Igor Lebedev were among the project’s creators. The artist later emphasized that the work was conceived as a caricature and an installation figure, not as a classical monument. This explains the figure’s playful character and its unusual placement on a building façade.

The figure did not stay in one place. The artist described its changing history: over the years, it was mounted on various buildings before hanging for several years at the Museum of the History of Tomsk.

The sculpture was taken down from the museum façade in early 2024. The latest specific information, published on December 16, 2025, described it as restored and preserved in the artist’s workshop. Talks with potential buyers had not resulted in a new public location by the time of that report.

Its former place on the façade of the Museum of the History of Tomsk remains a chapter in the sculpture’s history. For a city walk, Tomsk’s museums, wooden façades, and university buildings offer other specific destinations.

Among Tomsk’s unusual landmarks, alongside the former Lover, are the Monument to Happiness, the Monument to Slippers, and the Chekhov Monument. Each offers a different perspective on literature, humor, and everyday life. A walk among Tomsk’s wooden façades and university buildings reveals the broader urban setting.

The Monument to Happiness is all about humor, the Monument to Slippers draws on an everyday object, and the Chekhov Monument celebrates literature. Streets and historic façades lie between these destinations; accommodation suited to your location and travel plans can fit your itinerary and arrival point. Tomsk city center brings the sculptures together with wooden architecture and university buildings.

Tomsk is in Siberia, a region where cities are far apart. Novosibirsk, Omsk, and Irkutsk are separate legs of a trip; the distances involved make them unsuitable as short add-ons to a walk around Tomsk. A longer route through Siberia can combine city visits and destinations in the countryside.

Direct flights between Russia and the EU have been suspended; connections through international hubs can change at short notice. German Visa and Mastercard cards and payment apps do not work in Russia; cash withdrawals using German cards and transfers to Russia are also unavailable. These conditions affect getting to and around the destination, travel preparations, entry requirements and documents, and staying safe while travelling in Russia.

Where can you see the sculpture today?

It is no longer on the façade of the Museum of the History of Tomsk. On December 16, 2025, the restored and preserved figure was reported to be in the artist’s workshop; no new public display location had been found by the time of that report.

Who created the Monument to the Lover?

Tomsk artist Oleg Kislitsky developed the figure with Boris Pertsev and Igor Lebedev for the “E-ros-gildyai” exhibition.

How many buildings in Tomsk has the figure been mounted on?

The artist recalled that it had appeared on 32 different buildings over the course of two decades. These changing façade locations shaped the sculpture’s history before it hung for several years at the Museum of the History of Tomsk.

How is the sculpture different from a classical monument?

It was created as a humorous caricature and an installation figure hanging from a ledge. The artist later said that a classical monument had never been the original intention.