Icarus - Monument to Edvard Rusjan

The first public monument in the town

The first public monument in the town, Ikarus, stands opposite the gravestones. It is a memorial to Edvard Rusjan (1886–1911), the first Slovene aviator. In 1909, together with his brother Josip, he flew the first model of the Eda aircraft. Over time, the brothers built seven aircraft in total — a remarkable achievement, as their first flights took place only six years after the Wright brothers’ maiden flight. They were not only designers and builders but also the pilots of their aircraft. Edvard Rusjan died in a fatal accident during a demonstration flight in Belgrade in 1911.

The brutalist reinforced-concrete monument, erected in 1960, is the work of sculptor Janez Lenassi (1927–2008). It was initially built in a clearing surrounded by trees, as shown in the photo on the right, but buildings gradually sprang up around it. Nevertheless, the monument's size and significance allowed it to form its own square.

Avtor: Blaž Kosovel

Kraj: Nova Gorica

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