Mosaic "The Big Book"

The Central Library of Visaginas houses the mosaic panel “The Great Book”, whose story began back in 1981, when the city was still known as Sniečkus. It was the first mosaic work created by the artist Viktor Tatarenko in Visaginas and became an important starting point in his artistic career.

The mosaic, covering approximately 12 square metres, was originally created for a jewellery store. It was made using ornamental and semi-precious stones - agate, rhodonite, chalcedony, nephrite, jadeite, lapis lazuli, jasper in various shades, hematite, and other minerals. These materials gave the artwork not only a rich variety of colours but also the natural beauty of stone patterns and the play of light.

Interestingly, the stones were not specifically sourced for this mosaic. They were remnants from the jewellery industry that had been acquired by a design institute before the artist began his work. The materials were originally intended to be used in the construction of the city.

Viktor Tatarenko recalls that he approached the selection of the stones almost like Cinderella from a fairy tale: he washed them himself, sorted them, and carefully selected those that best suited his planned composition. At the same time, he studied the properties of the minerals, their hardness, origins, and history. Thus, creating the mosaic became not only an artistic process but also a kind of exploration into the world of minerals.

According to the artist, he initially envisioned the image of a magical flying carpet, but gradually the concept of the artwork developed into “The Great Book”. The title is symbolically connected with knowledge, discovery, and the exploration of the world — themes that are particularly meaningful in the setting of a library.

Although the mosaic was completed, it remained without its intended location for several years, as the building for which it had been created was not yet ready. Later, the purpose of the building changed, and so did the fate of the mosaic. Today, it is located in the foyer of the Central Library of Visaginas.

The artist also recalls that the mosaic was installed without his supervision as its creator. Nevertheless, what matters most is that the artwork has survived. It continues to delight the residents of the city and visitors of the library.

Library opening hours:

Monday-Thursday: 10:00-18:00
Friday: 10:00-17:00