According to Russian propaganda, the city of Odesa was founded in 1794. However, Cossack cemeteries are located in this place on the territory of the former Khajibey, where the earliest burials date back to 1791.

The Kuialnyk cemetery of Odesa is the largest of the preserved Cossack cemeteries of Ukraine, a historical monument of the second half of the 18th century – the end of the 19th century. Long before the russian occupation-colonization, Cossacks lived here, on the edge of Hadjibey.

The oldest cross in the cemetery dates back to 1791 – it was erected three years before the so-called founding of Odesa. The Cossack settlement dates back to the 1870s. In total, there are more than five hundred graves in the cemetery, about two hundred are crowned with stone crosses.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Kuialnyk Cemetery, 143 Khadzhybeiska Road, Odesa, Odesa Region
The date of the destruction none
Scan date September 2022

The sculptural group “Lion and Lioness” was created by the famous French sculptor-animalist Auguste Caїn in 1854. They are located in the center of the historical city of Odesa at the entrance to the City Garden from Deribasivska Street. These are well-known and beloved mascots of Odesans and city guests.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Lions of the Odesa City Garden, Odesa.
The date of the destruction none
Scan date 11 August 2022

In October 2022, as part of the Museum for Change initiative and with the support of UNESCO, the lions and a number of other city sculptures were closed with protective structures.

In spring 2022, monuments all over the country were being spontaneously closed off with sacks of sand by communal services and local volunteers. This process normalized over the summer and autumn, and initiatives and programs were launched to work on the issue comprehensively. To protect the sculptures from shelling, an engineering structure now comprises a frame, filling, and casing, which varies from object to object.

The lion symbolizes courage and bravery, and the lioness – maternal care. They got to Odesa from the Paris Salon of contemporary art, where it was bought by an unknown Odesan. Between 1846-1888, Caїn exhibited 38 models at the Salon. The weight of the statues is 1.5 tons. The composition was created almost entirely of 99.7% pure copper.

By the 1920s, the Odesan lions were in private ownership and decorated the gardens of merchants, actors and entrepreneurs. In 1927, all sculptures were nationalized and transported to different parts of the city.

Other works by Caїn include “Tiger Killing Crocodile” (1873), “Lion and Lioness Fighting for Boar” (1854) and “Two Lionesses Attacking Bull” (1882) in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, “Tigress Bringing Her Cubs a Prey” (1873) in Central Park, New York, “Lionesses of Sakhara” (1867) near Porte des Lions at El de Flor, “Discontented Tigress” (1863) in Tlemcen, Algeria and “Nubian Lion and His Prey” (1870) in the Luxembourg Garden.

The monument, which included sculptures of the Russian Empress Catherine II and her companions – José de Ribas, Francisco de Vollan, Grigory Potemkin and Platon Zubov, was located in Odesa on Catherine Square.

Built in 1900 by Ukrainian architect Yuriy Dmytrenko, sculptor Mykhail Popov, engineer A. A. Sikorsky with the participation of sculptor Boris Edouard, it was demolished in 1920 and restored in 2007. It was demolished again in December 2022.

According to Russian propaganda, the city of Odesa was founded in 1794. However, on this site in Khadjibey there are Cossack burial grounds, where the earliest burials date back to 1791.

The Center for Contemporary Art and Culture “Champanka” provided support in obtaining permits for filming and an car tower for top shots.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Monument [to the founders], Odesa
The date of the destruction – none
Scan date – july 2022

Author – Oleksandr Kolodin, Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Tank, Odesa region. The origin is unknown, probably from the Kherson front
The date of the destruction – before August 2022
Scan date – October 2022

The tank was filmed at a street exhibition of burnt russian equipment at the 411 battery memorial in Odesa. The authors of the graffiti are residents of Odessa and guests of the city. The authors of the scan are Pixelated Realities, Oleksandr Kolodin (cameraman).

The isometry on engineering drawing paper reminds of the historical paradox created by the Russian invasion. Soviet tanks were developed in Ukraine and are being destroyed now in defense against the occupants.

The museum is located in one of the oldest manors of Odesa, built at the beginning of the 19th century. The building is located in the heart of the city, in close proximity to the port and industrial facilities.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa), laser scan – Natalia Moldavska
Partners – Odesa Fine Arts Museum, supported by the Aliph Foundation; Laser scanning with the support of Pixelated Realities NGO
Object name, scanning location – Pototski-Naryshkiny Palace, Odesa.
The date of the destruction – minor damage in July-August 2022
Scan date – from May to September 2022

In the middle of the summer of 2022, the city was systematically bombarded by kamikaze drones. A vintage glass ceiling lantern of one of the exhibition halls of the museum was destroyed due to the seismic waves from the explosions in the port. Currently, the entire permanent exhibition of the museum has been conserved and evacuated. The rooms are empty.

The museum was closed only twice in the history: during World War II and from February 24th 2022. Now the collection is locked in the basements with very limited chances of being seen and appreciated by the public or scholars.

Thanks to the support of Aliph Foundation in the spring of 2022 we’ve started a project of collection conservation and evacuation. One of its part was a small scale support for the 3D scanning of the facade and interiors of the Palace.

Start of the building restoration was planned for the summer of 2022, but never had the chance to start. The materials about the building were scarce, and the documentation was yet to be developed for the restoration project. One of its elements was to produce a detailed 3D scanning and use it for BIM project during conservation activities and research.

Starting from May and Until September 2022 Pixelated Realities PO finished a ground photogrammetry and laser survey and collected data for 3D reconstruction. The 3D model lacks its roof, as it was not surveyed due to martial law it is prohibited to use drones in the city. The team collected over 30000 high resolution photos. The model can be viewed on site. Laser scanning was an investment from the PO to add precise measurements to the scan. For 2023 it is planned to use model for a metamuseum, enabling online exhibitions of digitized collection.

The monument is located in the picturesque park of the same name in the center of Odesa. The sculpture was created in 1966 by the sculptors A. Belostocki, O. Suprun, and the Odesa architect H. Topuz developed the project of the square and integrated the volume of the monument into the existing environment.

In summer 2022, the Pixelated Realities team digitized the monument using photogrammetry. The Champanka Center for Contemporary Art and Culture provided support in obtaining permits for filming and a car-tower for top-down shots.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Monument to Taras Shevchenko, Odesa
The date of the destruction – none
Scan date – July 2022

March 9 the statue of Duke de Richelieu in Odesa was the first one to be lined with sacks to protect against bombing. It is now a monument to the Ukrainian people, who defend its culture even facing the war.

All footage was taken with photocamera from a bucket truck to be able to shoot from above by our brave colleagues Andrii Tkalych and Oleksii Voronko. The model was prepared for web by Fedir Boitsov and Alik Kadoum, Pixelated Realities. The truck was organised by volunteers, with special thanks to the support of Viknianskiy Nikolay and efforts of Ielena Pidopryhora.

The Center for Contemporary Art and Culture “Shampanka” provided support in obtaining permits for filming, a car tower for overhead views.

Author – Pixelated Realities (Odesa)
Object name, scanning location – Statue of Duke de Richelieu in Sand Bags,, Odesa
The date of the destruction none
Scan date July 2022