The award-winning, Vitebsk-born Zair Isaakovich Azgur (1908-1995) is a household name in Belarus. Azgur being one of the most celebrated Belarusian artists of the Soviet era, his busts of soldiers, the political elite and a few surprising others graced and in many cases still grace plinths throughout the former mighty empire. This little known museum, housed inside the sculptor’s former home and workshop, is a real jaw-dropper, and should feature on all itineraries to the city. A massive head of Karl Marx greets visitors, although the main reason for dropping by is the vast space on the second floor, dominated by a series of large floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with Azgur’s work. Magnificent.
