The Newborn monument is a typographic sculpture — the word NEWBORN in enormous yellow letters, each about three metres tall — that stands outside the Palace of Youth and Sports on the edge of Pristina's city centre. It was unveiled on 17 February 2008 at the exact moment Kosovo declared independence, and it has become the country's most recognisable symbol.
What makes it more than a static landmark is the repainting tradition. Every year on the anniversary of independence, the letters are redone with a fresh theme chosen to reflect Kosovo's current mood and aspirations. The themes have ranged from the flags of all countries that recognise Kosovo's independence, to messages of solidarity with other independence movements, to artistic collaborations. This means the monument is always slightly different from the last time you saw it.
It is an easy walk from Mother Teresa Boulevard and works well as a meeting point. The surrounding square is lively in the evenings. The building behind it — the Palace of Youth and Sports — is itself a fine piece of Yugoslav modernist architecture worth a look.