Prague route: sculptures of David Černý and contemporary art. Strange monuments of Prague Monument to Palach and Zaits

The Czech Republic is home to some of the strangest statues in the world. Not surprising, since Prague is the birthplace of the infamous sculptor David Cerný. His provocative works have gained recognition throughout the world. Besides Czerny's breathtaking masterpieces, the Czech Republic is full of quirky statues that are sure to make you stop and think.

1. Hanging Man, Prague

2. Babies on the Žižkov TV Tower, Prague

3. “Pissing Men”, Prague

Czerny's sense of humor was most evident in his sculpture of men peeing at the Franz Kafka Museum in Prague. The sculpture consists of two bronze men. Their hips are robotic and move so that words or entire phrases are spelled out with a stream of water. Anyone can send an SMS, which will be written in sculptures.

4. Statue of St. Wenceslas on a dead horse, Prague

5. Statue of St. Vilgefortis, Prague

6. Devil's heads, Zhelizy

7. Column of the Holy Trinity, Olomouc

There are a lot of monuments of various kinds in the capital of the Czech Republic; the oldest, of course, are located in Prague Castle. It is there that the famous Church of St. Vitus is located, founded in the mid-14th century and whose phased construction continued until the mid-19th century. There are a lot of famous sculptures and bas-reliefs here. The church itself even surpasses Notre Dame Cathedral in volume, although it is somewhat shorter in length. The Charles Bridge is also unique, decorated with dozens of monuments and sculptural groups.

But there are also bright sculptures of modern times in Prague. Among them is a monument to the victims of communism. The memorial includes seven bronze sculptures, the figures of emaciated people symbolizing the suffering of political prisoners under the communist regime. The depressing impression is strengthened by the fact that, in accordance with the architects' plan, each sculpture looks defective: one is missing any limb, and a fracture is visible on the body of the other.

The well-known sculptor David Černý is successfully working in the Czech Republic. In particular, he created a monument to the writer Franz Kafka, managing to bring to life the image of the most mysterious writer of the 20th century. The art object is created from stainless steel in the form of 42 horizontal elements that are independent of the other parts and are constantly in motion, stopping only for a few minutes and allowing you to view the exact image of Franz Kafka. The writer worked on novels that influenced many readers, and now “The Shining Head of Franz Kafka” stands majestically over a small square and reminds of the writer’s enormous contribution to literature.

In the courtyard of the Kafka House Museum in Prague, another original creation by David Černý, “Monument to Pissing Men,” is installed. Men relieve themselves on a water-filled map of the Czech Republic, symbolizing the division of Czechoslovakia. The monument is interactive: thanks to a special electronic device, the male sculptures can move their hips and certain organs, displaying different quotes in streams on the water surface of the tank. What will be “written” can be ordered by sending a paid SMS to a specific phone number.

One of the most provocative sculptures by David Cherny is the sculpture “Toadying,” which represents two five-meter white figures of naked headless men resting their hands on a concrete wall. In addition to monumental satire, there is also political irony in the work of David Cherny. You can feel it if you climb a specially installed iron staircase and watch a continuously shown video with Vaclav Klaus, the ex-president of the Czech Republic, and Milan Knizak, a famous Czech artist, sculptor, musician and dissident. The latter feeds Vaclav Klaus porridge, flowing down his chin and dripping onto the table, while Queen’s “We are the champions” plays.

Monuments are the most important element of human civilization - they have been erected and destroyed at all times. Almost three thousand years ago, Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for more than two decades in the guise of a male pharaoh, and she ruled well. When she died, her successor, by the way, a nephew, in anger for insulting the image of a male pharaoh, began to destroy all the monuments dedicated to Hatshepsut. But he ruled Egypt much worse than his predecessor.

Nowadays they continue to destroy monuments and create new ones. The Czech Republic is a good example of caring for history and providing freedom for the creativity of sculptors and artists. Today, Czech modernist sculptures reflect our difficult times. Time will put everything in its place.

Everyone knows about the beauty of Old Prague and its numerous historical monuments. What can you say about contemporary works of art in the Czech capital? What unusual art objects are there in Prague and where can you see them?

There are many modern exhibits at exhibitions and in Prague museums, but we will look at works of art that are in the open air. Let's talk about modern monuments on the streets of Prague. Of the ten most popular street statues, seven were created by the notorious sculptor David Černý.

“Horse” (Kůň), 1999

“Babies” on the TV tower

Ten giant “negros” – 3.5 m each – were installed on a building in the Zizkov district of Prague. Black, shiny and faceless crawling babies were made by the sculptor back in the 90s, but there was no suitable place to place them. In 2000, Prague was declared a European cultural center. In honor of this event, Cerny, who lived on Žižkov at that time, placed the “little ones” on the TV tower. For a whole year and a half he chose a specific place for each figure.

Not all residents and guests of Prague liked “Babies”. In 2009, on one well-known Czech tourism portal, the Žižkov TV tower with “babies” was named the second ugliest building in the world. The tower is located at: Prague 3 – Žižkov; Mahlerovy sady 2699/1.

Three similar bronze babies are installed on the island.

"Pissing Men" performed by Cerny, 2004

Many people have seen “Pissing Boys” as fountains, and the public will not be surprised by this. David Cerny went even further. He has men peeing (Čurající fontána) - mannequins of fully mature husbands, each 210 cm high, controlled by an electronic device that allows you to rotate your hips and raise your penis so that the flow of water on the surface of a lake in the shape of the Czech Republic writes letters. While doing their usual “work,” men are quoted by celebrities in an unusual way. The “creativity” of these original fountains can be ordered in advance by sending the corresponding SMS to +420 724 370 770. And the desired phrase will be (literally!) “written.”

The fountains are located in the courtyard.
Address: Prague – 1; Cihelna 2.

"Suspended" (Viselec), 1999

In this case, Cerny “hung” the statue of Sigmund Freud to a height of 220 cm. The unfortunate sculpture of the eminent psychologist hangs from the roof on one hand (Socha Sigmunda Freuda visícího za jednu ruku) on Husova Street. This figure has repeatedly visited various exhibitions around the world. In 2007 she exhibited in Chicago. There, the work of David Cerny caused quite a stir. In the darkness, a realistic figure was mistaken for a person in trouble, and they tried to call rescuers to him.

"Where are you going?" (Quo vadis?), 1990

The sculpture of a Trabant car walking on human legs is dedicated to refugees from the former GDR. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germans fled en masse to Prague in their Trabants (they did not need a Czech visa). These people abandoned their cars near the German Embassy and went to ask for political asylum. In the park of the German Embassy in the Lobkovickém paláci in Prague, this funny monument has been erected since 2001.

Cars on the facade of "MeetFactory"

Two red cars decorate the MeetFactory cultural center

MeetFactory is the building of David Cerny's studio - a multifunctional cultural center. Two more red cars are suspended vertically on its façade. The studio is located in a former railway depot in the Smichov district.
Address: Prague 5; Ke sklarne 15.

“Toadying” or “Brown-nosing”

The English play on words "Brown-nosing" is clear to most people without explanation. This installation was installed in the Futura gallery (at the exhibition of contemporary art). Two huge naked statues (or rather, their lower parts) stand leaning at a right angle. Climbing the stairs, you can look into each figure's... very essence. There, inside, there is a video with Vaclav Klaus and Milan Knizak. Prominent political and cultural figures eat porridge there!

The gallery is located at: Prague 5; Holečkova 49.

A six-meter sculpture of a chair stands at the entrance to the Jana a Medy Mládkových museum. Magdalena Etelova, a Czech sculptor, created a four-meter sculpture in the 1980s. It was installed at the gateway of the Vltava River and one day was destroyed by a flood. At the Fine-Industrial School, in 2003, they made a new – six-meter version of the “Chair”. They installed it in the same place. She weighs 8 tons, and rising water will no longer harm her.

"Penguins" at Re-Evolution

The penguin figurines are part of the Re-Evolution exhibition, owned by (a project of the art group Cracking Art Group). They are made from recycled plastic bottles and stand by the river, near the “Chair” we already know. At night, the formation of 34 yellow penguins (žlutých tučňáků) is illuminated. That's very beautiful!

"Victims of Communism"

The Memorial “Victims of Communism” (Pomník obětem komunismu) was opened near Újezd ​​Street in 2002. Authors: sculptor O. Zubek; architects: Z. Holzel and J. Kerel.

This memorial of seven statues represents the indestructible political prisoners of the communist rule of 1948-1989. Thin, almost ethereal figures mournfully walk up the stairs and seem to disappear into space. There is a bronze plaque in the center of the monument. It indicates the number of victims of the communist regime.

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The monument to Charles IV is erected on Křizovnice Square, near Charles Bridge, in Prague. It was erected in honor of the quincentenary of Charles University in 1848. This four-meter bronze monument is made in the neo-Gothic style. It is decorated with allegories of four university faculties: Arnošt Pardubicki, Jan Oczek Vlasimski, Benes Kolowratski and Mathieu Arras - famous associates of the king.

Charles IV is depicted holding a sword - a symbol of his military victories and the statute of the university. It is worth noting that Charles University, which is the main university in the country, the oldest in Central Europe, and also one of the oldest in the world, was founded by the emperor in 1348.

Coordinates: 50.08636300,14.41389100

TGM Monument

On Prague's Hradcany Square there is a bronze monument to the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk.

The three-meter figure of Tomas Masaryk rises on a granite pedestal in the very center of Prague's historical Hradcany district.

The monument was made by sculptors Josef Weitz and Jan Bartosz, based on the model of the master Otakar Spaniel, enlarging the original model three times. The prototype of the sculpture was created in 1931 and is now housed in the Prague Pantheon of the National Museum. The architect Jiří Ratouski gave the original model a modern look.

After the installation of the monument in Hradcany Square, a copy of the statue was also made, which was then taken and placed in Mexico City on the main avenue named after Masaryk. He is so well known in his country that the authors limited themselves to the laconic inscription “TGM” on the monument, without deciphering the full name of the first president.

Coordinates: 50.08952700,14.39648800

Monument to Sigmund Freud "Hanging Man"

The Hanging Man monument to Sigmund Freud is located on the protruding part of the roof of one of the houses in Prague. The figure of the famous scientist “hangs”, clinging to a beam with one hand. The author of such an unusual creation is the notorious Prague sculptor David Černý. The monument was created in 1996 and was a stunning success, and therefore the sculpture was hung in Prague, Chicago, and London.

They say that from a distance at dusk, the suspended figure of Freud resembles a hanged man or a person in trouble and often frightens passers-by. Some even see similarities with Vladimir Lenin and political implications in the sculpture. But according to the author’s plan, the monument should personify the isolation of the intelligentsia from the people.

Coordinates: 50.08723700,14.41734000

Monument to Berjikh Smetana

The monument to Bedřich Smetana is erected in front of the entrance to the composer's museum. The site where the monument is installed offers a beautiful view of the Vltava River, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) was a famous Czech composer, chief conductor of the Czech National Opera and pianist. His name is associated with the national school of composition. In his works he used Czech subjects and folk motifs. He owns the work “The Brandenburgers in the Czech Republic,” which became the first opera in history in the Czech language. His symphonic poem “Vltava” is considered the unofficial Czech anthem. Smetana was buried at the Visegrad cemetery.

Coordinates: 50.08566100,14.41294300

Monument to Jan Hus

The monument to Jan Hus is located in the northern part of the square and with all its grandeur demonstrates a symbol of national unity. The philosopher, preacher and reformer, who fought for the freedom of the Czechs, was recognized as a heretic in 1414, and a year later he was sentenced by the Catholic Church to execution by burning.

Monument to Wenceslas on an inverted horse

The monument to Wenceslas on an inverted horse is an ironic version of the famous classical monument to Saint Wenceslas. This unusual monument was made by the very scandalous sculptor David Cherny.

This version is in no way inferior to the original in popularity: a horse, tied by its legs, hangs upside down with its tongue hanging out, and the Czech King Wenceslas sits on its belly.

At first, it was decided to erect the monument, although close to the original, but on the other side of the square. However, the residents of the city did not like this creation of the sculpture and caused a whole storm of discontent. Therefore, it was decided to move the monument to another place.

Today it can be seen in the atrium of the Lucerne Passage. There, the monument is suspended from the ceiling on iron cables, and there are always a lot of tourists around it.

Coordinates: 50.08093000,14.42632600

Monument to the city tramp

The City Tramp Monument is a modern, original monument to the Czech homeless man, located in the heart of the capital of the Czech Republic. It represents a seated statue of a man on a blue bench - a barefoot, middle-aged man in a hat and loose cloak.

The monument to the tramp is located on a small street in the historical center of the Czech Republic, between Wenceslas and Old Town Squares. This is a small human-sized statue, around which tourists enjoy relaxing and taking pictures. The monument is cast from bronze. Vacationers in Prague love to shake his hand, rub his nose or the edge of his coat for good luck.

Coordinates: 50.08469700,14.42238600

Monument to Antonin Dvorak

The monument to Antonin Dvořák was erected on Jan Palach Square in front of the famous Rudolfinium, the palace of music and arts.

Antonin Dvořák is a world-famous Czech composer whose works have brought glory to his native country. His work reflected the musical traditions of Bohemia and Moravia, folk music and the melodies of his native land. In the last years of his life, Dvořák was director of the Prague Conservatory, which at that time was located in the Rudolfinium, a palace in the heart of the city.

After World War II, a bronze monument to Antonin Dvorak was erected on the square in front of the residence of the Czech Symphony Orchestra.

Coordinates: 50.08923000,14.41524300

Monument on Biloya Gora

The monument on Biloya Gora is a stone mound with a memorial plaque. It was erected in memory of those killed during a short battle that took place on Bila Gora on November 8, 1620 as part of the Thirty Years' War. On this day, the Habsburg Catholic army defeated the Czech Protestants, which sealed the fate of the Czech state for the next three centuries.

Bila Gora, 381 meters high, is one of the districts of Prague and is located on its western outskirts. The monument to the fallen Czech Protestants is located in the middle of the field on the hill where the meeting of the troops took place in 1620.

Coordinates: 50.07861100,14.31944400

Monument to firefighters

The Firefighters Monument is a monument dedicated to the 343 New York City firefighters who died responding to rescue efforts in New York City on September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack. This monument was unveiled on the island of Kampa. in Prague. The monument is a granite monument that depicts a fireman's helmet with the number 114.

The words on the pedestal read: “A firefighter is a person who lives in the world twice: for himself and for others. And that is why the life of a firefighter serves as a true example of a true understanding of human life.”

The opening of the monument was attended by the mayor of the capital, Bohuslav Svoboda, and representatives of the US Embassy. After the national anthem ended, members of the Prague Volunteer Firefighters Corps laid wreaths on the granite monument.

Coordinates: 50.08389200,14.40787400

Monument to Palakh and Zaits

On January 16, 1969, Jan Palach self-immolated on Wenceslas Square, protesting against the occupation of the Czechoslovak Republic by Soviet troops. Jan Palach was a twenty-year-old student who, seeing around him the passivity in the actions of his compatriots in front of the troops that occupied Czechoslovakia, out of despair, fearing that the country might forever remain a totalitarian state, committed an act of self-immolation. Jan Zaitz followed suit.

Monument to the Victims of Communism

The Monument to the Victims of Communism is a multi-sculptural allegorical composition located at the foot of Petrin Hill in Prague's Lesser Castle. This memorial was erected in honor of victims of the totalitarian regime of 1948-1988. The monument was opened in 2002, its authors are sculptor Olbram Zubek and architects Zdenek Holzel and Jan Kerel.

The sculptural composition consists of 7 bronze figures, which are depicted going down the stairs. Each subsequent statue is more “destroyed” than the previous one: first, limbs are “lost,” then fractures appear in the bodies, and in the end it seems that the person has gradually dissolved. According to the authors, the monument symbolizes the suffering of political prisoners during the period of communist rule. In the center there is an inscription indicating how many people were arrested, deported, died in prison, killed while escaping, or executed during those years. And on the bronze plaque placed nearby it is explained to whom this monument is dedicated.

Coordinates: 50.08336200,14.40311900

Monument to John of Nepomuk

Monument to John of Nepomuk - a statue depicting the famous Czech saint and martyr, installed on the Charles Bridge in Prague. It is believed that touching the statue brings good luck and happiness.

The first monument to John of Nepomuk was erected on the Charles Bridge at the beginning of the 17th century, and the modern bronze sculpture appeared in 1863. Its author was the famous sculptor Wolfgang Gerolt, and the pedestal was made by Jean Baptiste Matei. The monument turned out to be very beautiful and majestic, and it quickly became a model for many other sculptures depicting John of Nepomuk.

And even today this statue is considered the most beautiful decoration of the Charles Bridge and one of the most famous attractions of Prague.

Coordinates: 50.08649900,14.41131900

Monument to Franz Kafka

Between the Spanish Synagogue and the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Old Town there is an unusual monument - a monument to the famous Austro-Hungarian writer Franz Kafka.

The bronze sculpture, designed by Jaroslav Rona, appeared in Prague in 2003. The Kafka monument is 3.75 meters high and weighs 700 kilograms. The monument depicts the writer on the shoulders of a gigantic suit, in which the one who should wear it is missing. The monument refers to one of Kafka’s works, “The Story of a Struggle.” This is the story of a man who rides on the shoulders of another man through the streets of Prague.

Coordinates: 50.09053500,14.42077900

Monument "Přemysl and Libuše"

The legend about the founding of Prague says that after the death of Cech, who led the Czech people to the Czech Republic, his son, Voivode Krok, founded the city on a rock above the Vltava and named it Vysehrad due to its high location. When Krok died, the Czechs chose his youngest daughter, Libuše, as princess. Deciding to move the capital, she sent servants to look for a place on the left bank of the Vltava. The servants met woodcutters who were cutting down a tree. "What are you doing?" - asked the servants of Libuse. “We’re cutting the threshold,” the woodcutters answered. When the servants returned, they reported everything to the princess. “On this threshold the new city will be called Prague, and the glory of its stars will reach!” - commanded the impressionable Libushe.

It is believed that the monument in Visegrad was erected on the spot where Libuše said these words.

Monument to Jan Hus

In the Czech Republic, Jan Hus is a national hero, a great thinker and ideologist of the Czech Reformation. He spoke out against corruption, hypocrisy and extortions of the Catholic Church.

A complex multi-figure composition on a huge stone pedestal is inscribed into the ensemble of the square in such a way that the tall figure of the courageous preacher-reformer Jan Hus appears in the geometric center of the square.

There is an inscription on the monument that expresses the basic philosophy of the great Czech reformer: “Love people.”

The sculptural groups surrounding it personify the dramatic fate of the Czech Republic: the Hussite wars go into exile, a mother and child symbolize the hope for national revival.

The monument is undoubtedly one of the most significant works of the early 20th century Czech sculptor Ladislav Šaloun.

Old Town Square is a pedestrian zone; there are always a lot of Prague residents and tourists walking here.

Coordinates: 50.08773500,14.42113800

Monument to Saint Wenceslas

In 1912, one of the landmarks of Prague, a monument to St. Wenceslas by Joseph Vaclav Myslbek, was erected in front of the building of the National Museum.

Ghost Monument

Prague residents truly respect their ghosts. And even a monument was erected to one of them! This is Iron Man, whose statue you will find on the corner of the New Town Hall building.

The spirit of Jachim Berki justly pays for his sins. Returning home from the war, he believed the gossip and rejected his bride. Only after marrying a neighbor's girl did he find out what a mistake he had made. Not only did the rejected girl and her father take their own lives, but his wife also turned into a lazy drunkard.

He made a man's decision: he strangled his wife and hanged himself in the basement. But even then he did not find peace. His spirit wanders along Platnerzhskaya Street, hoping for deliverance. Once every hundred years he can talk to a pure girl. However, today the cat made such people cry, and chatting with life-worn girls will not help Yahim.

Fountain-monument to pissing men

A fountain-monument to men pissing is installed in the courtyard in front of the house-museum of Franz Kafka. The museum is located in Mala Strana, about 50 meters from Charles Bridge. The museum houses the writer's published books, his diary, letters, photographs, sketches and many other things related to his life.

In front of the museum there is an extraordinary sculpture, which is a fountain composition made by David Cherny. Two bronze men stand opposite each other, relieving themselves in a shallow tank, shaped to recreate the borders of the Czech Republic. The author-creator was inspired for this sculptural work by the statue of a boy peeing, located in Brussels.

Coordinates: 50.08835800,14.41009000

Monument to Bozhena Nemtsova

The monument to Bozena Nemcova is located on Slovan Island, which is located in the center of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The monument has become one of the symbols of the park in which it is located. The monument in Prague was created in collaboration between the People's Artist of the Czech Republic, sculptor Karel Pokorny, and the architect Jaroslav Fragner, who designed the superb pedestal.

Bozena Nemcova occupies a special place in Czech literature. She is often called the founder of modern Czech prose. Having practically no means of subsistence at the end of her life, the writer received due recognition and national fame only after her death. The bronze sculpture is filled with emotion and true human drama. The monument to Bozena Nemcova in Prague is considered one of the best monuments to this outstanding Czech writer.

Coordinates: 50.07978300,14.41238000

Monument to Rabindranath Tagore

The Rabindranath Tagore monument is located in the historical district of Prague 6, near the Dejvicka metro station, in the capital of the Czech Republic. This is a monument in honor of the outstanding Indian writer and poet, composer and performer, political figure, who also had a positive influence on individual cultural figures of the Czech Republic. The Tagore monument is made in the form of a bust of the writer on a high pedestal and is located in the middle of a small square.

Coordinates: 50.07553800,14.43780000

Monument to Jaroslav Hasek

The monument to Jaroslav Hasek, located in Prague, is made in the Art Nouveau style. The monument is a kind of hybrid of a horse with a bar counter. In the center of it there is a small pedestal with a bust of the writer himself. The horse is made of bronze, the stele and bust of the writer are made of stone. There is a huge hole made inside the horse. According to the original idea, a beer barrel should have been located in this place.

The author of the monument was the famous Czech sculptor Neprash Karel. However, the author himself did not live three years before its discovery. The monument to Jaroslav Hasek was opened in 2005. Its opening was like a national holiday. During this event, the best Czech choreographic groups performed. On the same day, soldiers fired their weapons and sang the national anthem.

By the way, the monument cost the Czech treasury one hundred and forty thousand dollars.

Coordinates: 50.08534400,14.44084200

Prague metronome

The Prague metronome above the Vltava is a unique monument in its own way. On the one hand, it is absurd and, as they say, closes a kind of emptiness that formed in this place during historical events. On the other hand, impartially counting hours, minutes, moments, the metronome is an impeccable and powerful symbol of independent, passing time. Rising above the center of beautiful Prague, this awkward structure breaks stereotypes and often leads to existential experiences.

The monument was built in 1991 on the site of the former monument to Stalin. History decreed that the huge monument to the leader of the peoples was erected at the wrong time, in 1955. Several years later it was dismantled, and the resulting hole was eventually “plugged” with a metronome, a kind of example of modern art. At first, the monument temporarily placed here took root and has been steadily and steadily swinging its pendulum for the third decade. And it seems that this process will never stop.

Coordinates: 50.09496700,14.41603300

Monument "Pieta" on Charles Bridge

The Pieta monument is located on the Charles Bridge in Prague. This sculptural group was created in 1859 by sculptor Emanuel Max, who captured the scene of the mourning of Jesus Christ. Translated from Italian, “Pieta” means mercy and piety.

In addition to the usual Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene in this iconographic plot, the Apostle John the Theologian also mourns the Savior on the Charles Bridge.

This is not the first Pieta erected on this site. Previously, there was a Pietà hand carved from stone in 1695 by the sculptor Jan Brokoff, which was later moved to the garden of the Monastery of the Merciful Sisters. And in an earlier time, namely in the 15th century, on the site of modern Pieta there was an image of the Crucifixion, demolished by a powerful flood in 1496.

In addition to the Pieta, today there are 29 more sculptural groups on the Charles Bridge, dedicated to Catholic saints and having their own unique history.

Coordinates: 50.08648000,14.41146000

Monument to Josef Manes

The monument to Josef Manes stands on the Prague embankment at the base of the bridge, named after the outstanding Czech artist of the 19th century.

Josef Manes is a leading Czech painter of the 19th century. His works in the style of romanticism were a vivid continuation of the European artistic tradition.

The monument to the artist was erected at the end of the 19th century on the embankment, near the Rudolfinum hall, where the Prague National Orchestra is located.

The figure of Manes, who holds an easel in his hands, complements the architectural ensemble of the square, echoing the monument to another great Czech - Antonin Dvorak, whose sculpture is installed opposite.

Coordinates: 50.08954400,14.41451800

Monument to Jan Zizka

Monument to Jan Žižka is an equestrian statue of Jan Žižka, erected on Vitkov Hill in 1950. It symbolizes the memory of the national hero of the Czech Republic - Jan Žižka, who at this place in 1420 with four thousand people defended Prague from the army of thousands of crusaders.

The National Monument to Jan Žižka is located in the center of Vitkov Park, on top of the hill of the same name, almost in the center of Prague. The magnificent statue of the national hero of the Czech Republic is nine meters high without a pedestal and weighs almost 17 tons. It consists of 120 bronze parts and five thousand bolts. The statue of Jan Zizka is the world's largest bronze equestrian monument. It was designed by the Czech sculptor Bohumil Kafka, influenced by the works of Auguste Rodin, but the master himself did not see his own creation, since he died in the Second World War.

Coordinates: 50.08855400,14.45003100

The monument to Soviet soldiers was erected at the Olsany military burial ground in Prague in the Zizkov district. Next to the monument to the soldiers who fell during the liberation of Prague from the German occupiers, there are identical tombstones in the form of a stone pillar with a five-pointed star. In total, 426 people are buried here. Architect Karel Benes and sculptor Jaroslav Brugi worked on the design of the monument. The monument is a tall gray slab, in front of which stands a bronze soldier with a rifle in his hands. A five-pointed star with Soviet symbols: a hammer and sickle rises above the slab. The monument is accompanied by a memorial plaque.

Coordinates: 50.08055600,14.47055600

Sights of Prague

Čůrající postavy

The fountain is located near the building of the Franz Kafka Museum, which is not exactly a museum in the traditional sense. Rather, it is a traveling exhibition that remains in the city for a fairly long period (about 10 years). Its exposition is located on the territory of the former Gergeta brick factory. Here next to him stands an interesting, simply amazing, sculptural composition.

What is a sculpture

The installation is made in a completely absurd style, in principle, like the works of a brilliant writer. She represents a fountain formed by two men peeing standing opposite each other. Interestingly, the middle part of the sculptures can rotate from side to side. Thanks to this movement, fountains draw various shapes on the water.

The principle of operation of a hi-tech creation

The author of this monument is the sculptor and artist David Cherny. He really created a rather unusual “monument” to men who relieve themselves on the map of the Czech Republic and at the same time “draw” sayings of famous Prague residents around them.

The operating principle of this hi-tech creation is very simple. The body parts of the bronze men, whose height is 2 meters 10 centimeters, are moved by electric motors installed inside the men, and they are controlled by a computer. As a result of the operation of the motors, the stream of water also moves, thus creating the outlines of various symbols at the foot of the statues.

The usual “work” of these men, who quote celebrities in such an unusual way, can be suspended. To do this, you need to send a short SMS message from your mobile phone to the number (+420 724 370 770) indicated next to the unusual fountain. A few minutes after receiving the message, men will try to reproduce its contents. It is interesting that the movements of the statues look very natural. This feature of the sculpture attracts everyone's attention. There are always a lot of tourists here.

David Cherny is quite a scandalous person. However, thanks to this unusual and provocative combination of the shameful and the funny, people pay attention to the nearby Kafka Museum. The sculptural composition “Pissing Men,” like many of his works, also caused sharp criticism from the public, but, nevertheless, received the same wide recognition and became another striking landmark of Prague.

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