Monument “Miner's helmet” (Oruro, Bolivia)

Tiwy.com, Rem Sapozhnikov

February 2008

In Oruro there are several monuments built in the last decade. They are rather peculiar. One of them is devoted to the miner's helmet, and in fact – to glorification of complicated miner's labour. Huge metal helmet mounted on strong columns from the distance looks like an alien spaceship with the only passenger – the Virgin of Socavon, protector of miners.

Along the perimeter of the monument there are various figures taken from the miners' folklore, including the “Dragon”, as I called it for convenience. The Dragon, most likely, symbolises dangers that await for miners under the ground.

Not far from the “Helmet” the Carnival avenue starts, in the center of which are located metal images of Bolivian carnival classical characters.