On the 1st of February, the Statue of Happiness was erected in front of the State Medical University, Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The statue was sculptured by an architect Levan Vardosanidze under the idea of Arsen Gvenetadze, an associate professor of the university. The statue contains 5 colors representing 5 continents and the sun symbolizing the source of life and happiness.

The opening of the monument coincided with the commencement of the International Academy of Happiness on the premises of the State Medical University. The event caused public controversy. Some regarded the monument as a part of politics and found the idea ridiculous. While others think in a country like Georgia that faces numerous problems, the erection of the statue is unreasonable.

According to Gvenetadze, the monument is not connected with the politics at all. He has been thinking for long to somehow bring life to the idea of happiness. With the help of his friends, the professor decided to devote the statue to the idea. He believes that as freedom of speech is a key to happiness, anyone can be positive or negative about the event.

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