Alexandra Pakhmutova and Nikolay Dobronravov. Kogalym, Russia, 2023

Aidyn Zeinalov’s body of work includes monuments not only to musicians from bygone days but also to our contemporaries, whose songs have been cherished across generations. In 2023, a monument to composer Alexandra Pakhmutova and poet Nikolay Dobronravov was unveiled outside a new music school in Kogalym. “Everything changes, but Pakhmutova’s status is a constant. She is an incredible figure for all of us, across various generations,” said the sculptor. The piano, at which the composer is seated, is decorated with notes of some of the popular songs she co-authored with her husband, Nikolay Dobronravov, who is standing next to her.