The history of the sculpture's appearance in the French town of Lacosta is as follows. The outstanding French designer, fashion designer, artist Pierre Cardin and the Russian sculptor Alexander Nikolaevich Burganov were connected by a number of creative and artistic projects.
Alexander Burganov and Pierre Cardin said this about these creative contacts:
Pierre Cardin: "We met Burganov in Paris in 2007, when he had an exhibition at the Russian House. I immediately felt his style and originality of thought. I invited him to participate in the Lacoste Festival, which had not previously included fine art. I was especially attracted by the Welcome sculpture, which has become for me a cosmic symbol of kindness and friendship between people."
Alexander Burganov: "In 2007 there was an exhibition of my works in Paris. Pierre Cardin visited it, looked at it and said that he would like to cooperate with me. Cardin immediately invited me to his theater festival in Provence, in the former castle of the Marquis de Sade, which he acquired. He specially cut out theatrical amphitheatres and stages in the rocks. Pierre said that he had never organized an exhibition of fine art, but he sees that my art is close to the theater, which is why he invited me. I brought a huge number of works, as is typical of Russians, who caught fire with something. It startled him. In the sculpture Welcome, these open arms, Cardin saw a call to unity, communication, at the same time, and the universal and Russian beginning. Then We made it huge, 15 meters in span, and put it in front of the castle."
Since 2010, the 15-meter sculpture Welcome has been standing in the center of Lacosta. Muscovites and guests of the capital can see the author's copy of this sculpture in the center of Moscow in the museum "House of Burganov".
