Top quirky and unusual sculptures in Prague. Prague - “amazing sculptures” Monument in the form of two pissing men

01. Fountain "Musicians" on Senovazhnaya Square(sculptor Anna Khroma). Four dancing bronze sculptures represent four rivers: the mandolin sculpture represents the Ganges, the flute sculpture represents the Amazon, the violin sculpture represents the Danube, and the trumpet sculpture represents the Mississippi. The fifth sculpture is an allegory of the Nile River. (To be honest, I didn’t see the fifth one)

02. Sculptures of some special, mysterious beauty. The musicians are naked and covered only with scraps of “bronze fabric”, but their faces are covered.

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05. It seemed to me that their wrapped faces symbolize absolute rapture with the sounds of music and disdain for their nakedness

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07. "Dancer". You are both a puppeteer and a puppet - brilliant!

08. “Men Pissing” (sculptor David Cherny). They stand in the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum, at Cihelna 2b, Prague 1 on Mala Strana. This composition represents two bronze men peeing on a map of the Czech Republic. The provocative sculptures were installed in 2004 and are controlled by a computer that adjusts the rotation of the hips and raises the hips.

09. So, you can even make the statues “write” your own phrase by sending an SMS message from your mobile phone to the number 724 370 770.

10. In general, there are a huge number of naked boys in Prague, and all of them have their private areas polished to a shine. This one stands in the courtyard of the Toy Museum (at Jirska 6, Prague 1)

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12. These are probably the most famous figures of babies by the famous Czech master David Cerny. They are called "Babies" and crawl next to the museum on Kampa Island

13. You can climb on them, and no one is chasing anyone

14. Monument to the victims of communism (sculptor Zoubek). Mala Strana, at the foot of Petrin Hill. It consists of a staircase on which there are seven sculptures symbolizing the suffering of a person doomed to death... A depressing sight

15. The theme of religious sculptures also deserves special mention. In addition to the classic statues of the Apostles and many crucifixes, the city has many extraordinary performances, such as Christ made from old shoes (usually these installations are dismantled for the winter, so I didn’t catch it)

16. This is how jokers depicted the crucifixion in the museum at Karlova 2, Prague 1

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18. "Commander" at the Estates Theater. This is a monument in honor of the premiere of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni in 1787 (c sculptor Anna Chromi)

19. The “trick” of this character is that under the cloak... there is emptiness. This is also creepy

20. On the facade New Town Hall we meet Rabbi Loew. Legend has it that Death, who could not reach him for a long time, pretended to be a rose and was given to the rabbi by his daughter (now she is always crying next to him). If you don’t know this beautiful story, then all sorts of bad thoughts will come into your head;-P

21. On the other side of the building we are met by the Iron (Black) Knight of Scamp. It seems that the enchanted knight can be bewitched by the prayers of a young virgin (it worked out well, however).

22. A funny shop without legs, occupied by voluptuous musicians. Stands in front of the Inter Continental Hotel (on Pařížská street)

23. Very touching guys are standing on one of the platforms of the Prague Main Station ( Wilsonova 300/8, Prague)

24. On the embankment, next to the Kampa Museum, Sri Chinmoy stands and blesses the river buses passing by

25. Kafka is everywhere. This one is located at Praha 1, Dusni 141/12

26. "Sigmund Freud, the hanging intellectual" (with sculptor David Cherny). Plastic and epoxy resin sculpture symbolizes disconnection intelligentsia from the people.

27. A detached look and a hand in his pocket somehow hints that the comrade is completely indifferent to his safety, and in general, he has a philosophical attitude towards issues of life and death

28. Another interesting object “hovering” over Prague. Golden bone... (no comment)

29. And this sweetest car on human legs is called “Quo vadis - People's Car of the GDR “Trabant”” and stands in the courtyard of the German Embassy ( Vlašská 19, Prague 1, Malá Strana).

30. Prague boasts many lovely maidens. For example, this lady lights the way with her stone torches on one of the supports of the Chekhov Bridge

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32. In general, naked young maidens everywhere sparkle with their charms on the facades of Prague houses

33. Sexy madam sphinx lies against the wall of the Rudolfinum building (from the embankment side) at Alšovo nábřeží 79/12

34. And this person is waiting for visitors on the corner of the Three Angels house, in one of the alleys near Old Town Square

35. Some fabulous little frog is thoughtfully smoking a pipe on the pier. They corrected me here in the comments: “this is not a frog, but Vodnik, that is, Vodyanoy. There are several places in Prague where it is believed that Vodyanoy can live. One is this, on the Chertovka canal (next to the wheel of the water mill), the other - under the rocks of Vysehrad, there are others"

36. Another option for contemporary art in Prague is street art. For example, a whole orchestra of colored wire figures. They are standing at some cafe on the river, right behind the lock (from the Visegrad side)

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38. Every city has its own Tsoi Wall;-) In Prague, it bears the name of John Lennon and, at the same time, is the wall of the Maltese Garden (address Velkopřevorské nám.). Our VKontash dog is right there

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40. Graffiti in the passages is very colorful and cheerful. It’s curious that no one will spoil them with other inscriptions

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44. And this is my favorite “Embryo” by my beloved David Cerny. A sculpture resembling a human fetus," created in 1996 from metal, plastic and epoxy resin. It "grew" on the corner of the facade of the Na Zabradli theater building at Anenske Namesti 5, Prague 1, stuck to a drainpipe like an extraterrestrial creature from a science fiction film.

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46. At night, this something flickers moon-pink... If you don’t know that this is special, you can get a heart attack. Brrrrr!

47. The “Guns” exhibition in the courtyard of the AMoYA - Artbanka Museum of Young Art (the same David Cherny) consists of four suspended pistols, the muzzle of each of which is directed to the center

48. Glamor bomb - wow, this is adorable!!

49. Forged sign in front of the entrance to one of the many Prague hotels in the city center

50. And this bar made two minnows its totem and hung a couple above the entrance

51. Uh, “pink sheep”... no comment again

52. Window-node - it’s so Prague ;-)

Author - valniko77. This is a quote from this post

The main attractions in Prague - what to see?
The main attractions in Prague - what to see?

Prague is comfortably located on banks of the Vltava river, which divides the city into two parts. The city's territory is divided into 15 administrative districts, the most interesting of which are the central "Prague 1" and "Prague 2". There are more than 10 bridges across the river, the most famous of which is

The Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge- one of the main attractions of the city. The Gothic-style pedestrian bridge is decorated with ancient sculptures; its image is one of the symbols of Prague.

The most soulful attraction of Prague, 520 meters long - The Charles Bridge

It connects the two banks of the Vltava River and leads from the Old Town to Mala Strana. For several centuries this bridge served as the only communication. At the beginning of the last century, a tram service was launched across the Charles Bridge for some time, but due to the heavy load on the structure and the significance of this structure, the tram tracks had to be dismantled. ">

Charles Bridge Guard

Knight of Brunswick. This is the only statue that stands not on the bridge, but behind the fence, on the support of the Charles Bridge; in place of the statue.

One of the legends is associated with the knight Brunswick, who also bears the name of Roland.

One day, as a young man, Roland went on a journey, and everywhere along the way he fought injustice, defended the weak and disadvantaged. In one of the kingdoms, an evil dragon kidnapped the king's daughter and ravaged the kingdom. Fearless Roland fought the dragon and freed the king's daughter. As a reward for this, the king invited the knight Brunswick to take the young princess as his wife. The knight refused, since his beloved girl was waiting for him at home. Roland's refusal angered the king, and he ordered Roland to be thrown into prison. But Knight Roland did not have to languish in prison for long; a magic sword helped him free himself. Subsequently, this sword was placed at the base of the Charles Bridge, and will lie there as long as nothing threatens Prague. And only in the face of serious danger will the sword emerge from the base of the bridge and slay the enemies with its tip.

It was about the knight Roland standing on the Charles Bridge that Marina Tsvetaeva wrote: “I have a friend in Prague, a stone knight, very similar in face to me. He stands on the bridge and guards the river: oaths, rings, waves, bodies. He is about five hundred years old and very young: a stone boy.” She dedicated her poem The Knight of Prague to him:

The Charles Bridge- This is a kind of Broadway in Prague and one of the most famous attractions of the Czech Republic. Hundreds of thousands of tourists daily overcome the treasured 520 meters from one bank of the Vltava to the other. And everyone finds something interesting and unforgettable here. Today only pedestrians walk here: tourists and locals.

White swans on the banks of the Vltava

Once a year, in two places of this Prague landmark, you can and should make wishes that will definitely come true.

Come to the Charles Bridge in Prague, put your hand on the statue, kiss your loved one, dream, be charged with the most positive energy of this fantastic city. It is not for nothing that the great Dalai Lama, during his visit to the Czech Republic in 1990, while walking along the Charles Bridge, called this place the center of the universe. As the great Buddhist spiritual leader said, there is no negative energy on the bridge.

From a height of several meters, native Prague residents and tourists, including you, have been tirelessly watched for several centuries 30 beautiful statues of saints.

Each of them has its own story. The most interesting one is at the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, who was the vicar general of the Prague archbishopric and who, by order of King Wenceslas IV, was thrown from the Charles Bridge. Legend has it that in the very place where he drowned, glows from five stars appeared.

Statue of St. John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge.

Officially, the church recognized this phenomenon as a miracle and that is why in all sculptures and photographs John of Nepomuk is depicted with five stars above his head.

Old Town Square

She's a beauty Old Town Square, where is the city town hall, where world-famous people have been beating time for several centuries Astronomical clock. Every hour from 9 am to 9 pm, hundreds of people gather to see the most interesting show.

Monument to Jan Hus in Prague

Interesting to know! There is an inscription on the monument to Jan Hus, which, by the way, depicts not him alone, but a whole group of people - his supporters.

It says: “Love people.” This was the life philosophy of the great Czech.

Jan Hus - 14th century Czech philosopher, educator, priest-preacher. He became known for daring to go against centuries-old established church rules, trying to “humanize” the church, making it more fair and loyal to parishioners and honest with them. Jan Hus also made a significant contribution to the development of Czech philology, as he preached exclusively in Czech, promoted his native language in every possible way and carried out spelling reforms. After this, literacy became more accessible to ordinary people.

Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn (Tyn Cathedral)

New Town Hall

Astronomical clock in Prague or Prague Orloj

Modern experts still cannot understand how in the Middle Ages it was possible to create such a mechanism, which is now called a model of the universe. Recently, the clock celebrated its 600th anniversary; for the holiday, a laser show was created in 3D format, which reflects the most significant historical events of Prague.

Using the astrological dial, you can determine the current time, Central European, Old Bohemian, the position of the stars, sunset and rise of the sun and moon, and even the Sediric zodiac. On the sides are located 4 figures: Vanity looking in the mirror; Greed is a Jew holding a bag of gold; Death with a scythe in the form of a skeleton ringing a bell and a Turk shaking his head. Later, in 1490, a lower calendar dial was added.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Vitus located in the center Prague Castle. It is the largest and most significant cathedral in the Czech Republic; its spiritual and national-historical shrine.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the second largest after the Roman Cathedral of Peter and Paul.

Strahov Monastery

Strahov Monastery (Czech: Strahovský klášter) is a monastery in Prague, an architectural monument of the Czech Republic. Located in Hradcany, Prague 1. The monastery is one of the oldest monasteries of the Order of Premonstratensian monks.

It was founded in 1140-1143 by Vladislav II on the initiative of the Olomouc bishop Jindrich Zdik. The name of the monastery has roots from the word “guard”, since it was in this place that the outpost was located, guarding the approaches to Prague Castle.

Philosopher's Hall

Theological Hall

Zlata Street

Miniature houses, where, according to legend, alchemists lived, whom Charles IV gathered from all over the world to search for the philosopher's stone, decorate a tiny street in the labyrinths of Prague Castle and its name is Zlata Ulochka.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle- the residence of the Czech kings, now the president, which is located near the palace. Prague Castle- the largest fortress in the Czech Republic, stretching along the top of the hill on the left bank of the Vltava. This is a major historical, political and cultural center of the country, founded in the 9th century.

The front gate leads inside the Castle from Hradcany Square, where a guard of honor is posted, with which tourists love to take pictures. Every day at noon there is an honorary changing of the guard.

The Teresian Palace is located in the first courtyard of the City from the gate (the “Honorable”). Further, to the second courtyard, they lead

Baroque Matthias Gate.

Here you will find the Chapel of the Holy Cross, two fountains and a well with a Renaissance wrought-iron dome.

In the third courtyard - the oldest part of the Castle - is the famous Cathedral of St. Vitus (Witt). This stunning Gothic structure is considered the “hallmark” of the city, and its oldest part, the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, in which the “Czech national saint” was buried in 932, is a major center of pilgrimage.

Queen Anne's Summer Palace and Royal Gardens

Basilica of St. George

Wenceslas Square

The Czech people love Wenceslas Square like no other street, monument or church in Prague.

If Prague is the capital, then it is, first of all, on Wenceslas Square.

The heart of the New Town is Wenceslas Square, which was the Horse Market until 1848. Vaclavak, as the Czechs call the square, is today the center of city life. Shops, company offices, casinos, hotels, and restaurants are concentrated on it.

On Wenceslas Square there is the National Museum of Prague and the monument to Wenceslas.

National Museum of Prague

Monument to Saint Wenceslas.

The inscription on the pedestal of the monument reads:

“Saint Wenceslas, Duke of the Czech Land, our prince, do not let us or our children perish.”

Image of St. Wenceslas on the wall of the Building

dancing House

dancing House or, as the Czechs themselves call it, the drunken house, is the only building in the historical part of Prague built in the twentieth century.

The Dancing House is a symbolic building depicting a man and woman dancing.

The house is also called "Ginger and Fred" in honor of the duo of the great Hollywood dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

"Ginger and Fred", "drunken house", "glass", "dancing house"- such different and sometimes funny names are given by the residents of Prague to the non-standard building. Today, the Dancing House in Prague is an unusual office building in Prague, where several international companies are located, and on the top floor there is a fashionable French restaurant “Pearl of Prague”. Its windows offer a wonderful view of the city.

Sculpture-fountain “Pissing Men” in Prague

In Prague, near the Herget brick factory, there is an electromechanical statue of two men peeing in a pond whose outline resembles a map of the Czech Republic. Bronze figures do not just pour water, but under computer control “write out” famous quotes from famous residents of Prague. Visitors can also ask the statue to write their own text via SMS.

A statue of two men peeing in a pond whose outline resembles a map of the Czech Republic. Bronze figures do not just pour water, but under computer control “write out” famous quotes from famous residents of Prague. Visitors can also ask the statue to write their text via SMS to the number (+420 724 370 770) indicated next to the unusual fountain. The author of the composition is David Cherny, 2004

Monument to Franz Kafka

John Lennon Wall

in Mala Strana there is a wall dedicated to John Lennon. The wall has an interesting location, because right opposite the wall is the French embassy. There are rumors that inscriptions on the memorial wall began to appear immediately after the death of the famous John Lennon. They also believe that a true Lennon fan will find Lennon’s autograph among the thousands of inscriptions.

The city authorities tried their best to stop the high art of fans, but nothing was done. After each painting, new notes appeared on the wall. After reading the forum of Beatles fans, I found a very interesting quote explaining why the John Lennon Wall in Prague still “lives” - “They say that the French ambassador solved the problem by urgently asking to stop such outrages in order to avoid demonstrations of indignant Prague Beatlemaniacs: )" This wall, like Viktor Tsoi’s wall, is constantly changing, so it’s always interesting to look at the wall.

Petrin Hill

Petřín Hill- a hill worthy of the attention of every tourist. It is located on the left bank of the Vltava River, the highest point reaches 327 meters. The hill has been known since ancient times, because it was here that the pagans worshiped the thunder god Perun. With the construction of the Hunger Wall under Charles IV, the hill acquired strategic importance for the city.

At the top of the hill there is an observation tower that is visually reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Here you can also visit the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, the mirror labyrinth and the Petrin Gardens.

Visegrad

The southern hill of the central part of modern Prague is crowned An ancient fortress, once the residence of Czech kings - Vysehrad.

Within the walls of Vysehrad there are such attractions as the Neo-Gothic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the remains of the oldest Romanesque basilica, and the Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin. Visegrad Cemetery is the burial place of famous Czech figures.

Křižikov Fountains (Singing Fountains)

The most important attraction of the Vystaviste Park complex, the highlight that attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists and residents of Prague, is, of course, Singing fountains (Křižíkova fontána).

Singing Fountains today it is a huge pool with several fountains and a stage for a colorful show in the middle. Water jets, illuminated and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow to the beat of classical or modern music, change height, pressure, stun and amaze.

Immortal “Swan Lake” by P.I. Tchaikovsky performed by the Czech ballet, famous arias, three thousand fountains that merge with light and music, create an unforgettable mystery, enchant and delight both adults and the youngest spectators. Since 2000, the Singing Fountains have become even more spectacular and impressive thanks to the fact that colorful images are projected onto the water screen.

Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo (Czech: Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)- the largest zoo in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, located in the Troy Basin (Troy district) of Prague.

The Statue of Youth is located in Prague Castle next to the Toy Museum, in the old part of the city of Prague. This monument to a naked boy hides many stories about its origin and purpose. There is also a belief that touching the monument will bring happiness and love.

Some believe that he is a symbol of democracy, others believe that the statue is a representation of childish spontaneity and craving for everything new. When those who were particularly interested asked the architect what the meaning of this sculpture was, the architect simply threw up his hands and replied: “Nothing.” .

Of course, there are some beliefs here. Many tourists touch, expecting that it will bring happiness and unearthly love. Perhaps this is true. In any case, it’s worth going to Prague, admiring the statue and trying your luck.

Statue of the knight Bruncvik

Near the Charles Bridge on the Kampa Peninsula side there is a statue of the legendary knight of Czech legends Bruncvik (an analogy of the Russian Ivan Tsarevich). In the Czech Republic, the image of Bruncvik symbolizes the customs post of Charles Bridge, but is still located on the territory of the Small Town.

The stone Bruntsvik has his famous magic sword in his hands, and at his feet is a lion - his faithful friend and servant, who, after the death of his master, died on his grave. According to legend, the hero’s sword was walled up somewhere at the base of the Charles Bridge, and in the hour of mortal danger for his people, he must break out of captivity and to the call of the resurrected Bruntsvik - “Heads off your shoulders!” - must hit the enemy. One cannot help but remember that this particular statue of Bruntsvik was Marina Tsvetaeva’s favorite monument.

Crawling Baby Statues

Ten statues of crawling babies, made of bronze, were installed on the Žižkov Television Tower in 2000 as part of the project “Prague - European City of Culture”. The author of this idea is the extraordinary Czech sculptor David Černý. The sculptural composition was an incredible success, and since 2001, baby figures have become firmly established on the TV tower.

You can look at the 100-kilogram statues up close, photograph them and even sit on them in Kampa Park, where replicas of those same crawling babies are located. Despite the controversial public opinion, this creation of Cherny is one of the city’s attractions and a popular tourist attraction.

Statue of Saint Wenceslas

The Czech Republic has two patron saints - Saints Wenceslas and John of Nepomuk. They can be found in many parts of the city, as the Czechs themselves are very fond of their national defenders. There is a statue of St. Wenceslas on the main square of Prague, but the history of this monument is not as simple as it might seem.

Wenceslas Square, or as the townspeople themselves call it, Vatsavak is one of the largest squares in Europe. Many historical events took place at this place. Today, in the center of Prague's business and shopping center is a majestic statue of Prince Wenceslas, the country's patron saint. The first statue was installed here at the beginning of the 17th century and it is strikingly different from the one today. The first monument is distinguished by its poetic and ecclesiastical beauty, in which the country's leaders saw a little more naivety than is appropriate for the central statue of the city. Therefore, the first Vaclav was moved to Vysehrad, and in its place, according to the design of Joseph Vaclav Myslbek, a sculpture more in keeping with the national character of the Czechs was installed. The modern sculpture is surrounded by four other saints - St. Ludmila, St. Agnes of Bohemia, St. Procopius and Adalbert of Prague. Saint Wenceslas himself sits on a horse, protectively raising a banner above himself.

On the pedestal there is an inscription: “Saint Wenceslas, Duke of the Czech Land, our sovereign, do not let us or our children perish.” There is a legend that the saint sleeps under Mount Blanik, and when the Czech Republic is in mortal danger, the king and his knights will awaken and go out to fight.

Statue of Francisco Xavier

The statue of Francisco Xavier, located on the Charles Bridge in the Czech capital, Prague, is dedicated to the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier, who in the 16th century, on behalf of Pope Paul II and the Portuguese king, tried to convert Asians to Christianity. The first statue was created in 1711 by the sculptor Ferdinand Brokoff, commissioned by the Faculty of Philosophy and Philology of the University of Charles. In 1913, on the site of the statue that drowned during the flood of 1890, a copy of the work of Vincenz Vozmig was erected.

One of the most valuable and complex sculptures of the Charles Bridge represents a missionary standing on a high pedestal, overshadowing an Indian prince kneeling to his left with a highly raised crucifix. The pedestal is represented by the figures of a Tatar, a samurai and a black man. The boy to Francis's right hands him a shell of water for him to bless. Next to the boy you can see a sculpture of a pensive man with a book, who bears a portrait resemblance to the creator of the sculptural composition, Ferdinand Brokoff.

Sights of Prague

Sculpture of Kaburek

Urban sculpture is an integral part of any big city. In Prague it is very different: from monumental monuments to funny small sculptures. One of the latest is a sculpture of Kaburek, a Czech merman on the island of Kampa.

Kaburek has its own special place in the legends of old Prague. He differs from, for example, the Russian merman, who, as the master of the waters, rarely appeared on land and often dragged someone into his underwater kingdom for his own entertainment. Kaburek is a good water type. More than anything else, he loves beer and beautiful girls, and prefers bottled beer.

The legend says that in life the merman was an ordinary city dweller. Like all working people, Kaburek loved to have a glass or two of beer in the evening after a hard day. Returning home, he fell into the waters of the Devil’s River and drowned. Since then, a peace-loving evil spirit has been wandering around Kampa, entering Prague pubs and spending time among the townspeople.

In his free time from visiting pubs, Kaburek collects the souls of drowned people in clay pots at the bottom of his abode. By the way, the potter from whom Kaburek takes the pots also enjoyed good fame.

Kaburek loves good beer, and if he appears in a pub often, then this is a great honor for the owner: Kaburek will not go to a bad establishment. In order for the merman to feel comfortable in the establishment, the owner placed a tub of water in the corner: Kaburek always had to have his feet and coat tails in the water.

The gifts of civilization and technological progress frightened him away. As soon as gramophones, then stereos, or, even worse, televisions began to appear in Prague pubs, Kaburek stopped appearing here. Sometimes a man in a damp frock coat wanders around Kampa, asking passers-by for a bottle of beer and giving them fresh fish in gratitude.

Sculptor Josef Nalepa decided to capture the funny resident of the island and sculpted a statue of Kaburek. He sits on the wheel of an old mill in the pose of a thinker, smokes a pipe, looks attentively and thoughtfully at the water, and perhaps into eternity. Such a water-philosopher, humanly understandable, with his passions and weaknesses, in a word, with a soul.

The statue of the merman on Kampe is located near the Lovers' Bridge. Locks have recently appeared on the bridge: every couple in love considers it their duty to secure their union in this way. Because of this, Kaburek's sculpture is often not visible. Only if you look closely, you can see a little man in a hat and green frock coat, who sat down next to the river to reflect on the meaning of human life.

Sculpture “Cloak of Conscience” or “Empty Cloak”

An unusual gatekeeper awaits guests at the entrance to the ancient Prague Estates Theater. A figure wrapped in a cloak sits on a pedestal. But these are not the tricks of street performers at all! If you look closely, a shiver will creep down your spine - there is no one under the bronze folds of the cloak...

The plaque under the sculpture explains: the statue depicts the ghostly Commander, a character from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. The premiere of the musical masterpiece took place in 1787 in this theater, and the author personally conducted the orchestra. Nowadays, this is the only theater preserved in its original form, the walls of which witnessed the great Austrian composer. There were rumors that Mozart consulted in Prague with the legendary heartthrob Giacomo Casanova, who became the prototype of Don Giovanni.

The famous drama, which began with a duel between a dissolute rake and a Seville nobleman, inspired more than one generation of cultural figures and is known to us primarily from A. S. Pushkin’s play “The Stone Guest.” The father, trying to protect his daughter's honor from desecration, fell victim to Don Juan, but returned from the other world in the form of a tombstone statue to take revenge on the murderer. The rebellious disembodied spirit of the Commander, who actively intervened in the affairs of mortals, became a source of inspiration for the Czech sculptor Anna Chromy, the author of the statue near the Estates Theater.

The author's intention is much broader and is not limited to the spirit of vengeance. Since her youth, fascinated by the work of the surrealists, Anna Chromie developed the entire concept of “Cloaks of Conscience.” She interprets the emptiness framed by the cloak as intangible traces remaining in our world after a person leaves. They can be love, creative heritage, vindictiveness, resentment... They do not exist materially, as evidenced by the emptiness under the cloak, but their impulses continue to transform reality, giving it shape, like folds of fabric over the spiritual essence of the Commander.

The creative idea was embodied in a series of identical marble sculptures near the Salzburg Cathedral, in front of the Estates Theater in Prague, in front of the medieval Church of St. Severin on the Friesland island of Silt, in the Royal Palace of the Princes of Monaco and near the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, where an exhibition was held in 2007 Chromie's works.

The project lasted from 2005 to 2011 and aroused great interest among both ordinary people and celebrities. Personal copies of “The Cloak” were purchased by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, singer Andrea Bocelli, and the families of Italian businessmen Ferrero and Ferragamo.

In 2010, Chromie created a commemorative collection, “Cloak for Peace,” with statues painted in the heraldic colors of 200 countries. According to the author's idea, under the cloak were the elusive national mentality of each people and the friendly feelings that unite them into humanity.

Thus, everyone is free to fill the contents of the cloak with any emotions, which makes this sculpture a universal reflection of the boundless human soul.

Sculpture "Babies" in Prague

In 2000, a sculptural composition of huge (about 3.5 meters long) faceless babies crawling at great heights down and up the walls of this building was placed on the Žižkov television tower in Prague. The appearance of these alien babies on the boring TV tower, which is a reminder of the city's communist past, has turned it into one of Prague's most famous and popular tourist attractions.

In the winter of 2000–2001, the city authorities decided to dismantle the figures of children, since their fasteners were not designed for the additional mass of snow. But local residents have already fallen in love with the TV tower building in its new updated appearance, and therefore came to the defense of the sculpture. The city administration met the citizens halfway and, after improving the fastening system, the “Babies” returned to their place. The sculptor very carefully chose the location of each of his “wards”, but is still dissatisfied with the location of one of them.

Giant babies were conceived by David Cherny back in 1994, when he lived in New York. Initially, the composition of the sculptures was intended for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. But this museum could not find money for the installation, and therefore the figures wandered around various exhibitions for several years.

Babies in Kampa Park

In 2008, three more giant black babies with barcodes instead of faces “settled” in Kampa Park near the museum. The sculptures are cast in bronze, each, like its “Žižkov brother,” 3.5 meters long and about 2.5 meters high. Each baby weighs 100 kg. The sculptural composition “Babies” is very popular among tourists and is one of the most significant installations in the open part of the museum on Kampa.

Here everyone can take a closer look at them, take a photo and even climb on the famous babies.

All sculptural compositions of David Cherny have a hidden meaning. Here's "Babies" too. Babies without faces express the sculptor's protest against abortion.

Sculpture "Hanging Man" in Prague

A casual passerby on Gusovaya Street may have a sudden heart skip a beat: a man is hanging from a steel mast sticking out from the roof of one of the houses! Who is this? A suicidal hangman or a person in trouble?! It also happens that worried tourists call the police or firefighters. Well, the sculptor-provocateur David Cerný was counting on such attention to his brainchild, when in 1997 he hung a sculpture of a man holding a beam with his hand on a Prague street. The work was dedicated to the exhibition “Respect 97”.

The unique sculpture, 220 cm high, is one of the many creations of the world famous Czech sculptor in Prague. Invariably shocking and often annoying his fellow citizens, Cherny nevertheless earned international recognition with his works. The sculpture of the “hanging man” (“Viselec”) has traveled the world and has been “hung” at the Czech Cultural Center in Berlin, at the National Theater and at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London, among many others. At an exhibition in Chicago in 2007, there was even an incident with the police who came to “rescue” a potential suicide.

But was the “hanging man” really created just to cause fear? Some Czech citizens, and other representatives of the former Eastern Bloc, find a portrait similarity between the sculpture and Vladimir Lenin and see in the work a political satire on the long-lived communist paradise. However, the sculptor himself claims that the figure personifies the Austrian father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. Clutching the saving beam with one hand, the professor seemed to be hovering over the abyss of the Unconscious, into which he was one of the first to look at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Continuing the game with the public, Cherny offers another, more scandalous, interpretation: the sculpture symbolizes the isolation of the intelligentsia from the common people, to whom the jungle of psychoanalysis is alien. The provocation was a great success: interest in the work does not fade, and the proposed interpretations allow modern psychoanalysts to look into the hidden corners of the minds of interpreters.

Sculpture “Inverted Horse”

What epithets do well-wishers call the sculpture “Inverted Horse” and its author David Cherny. One thing is certain: this masterpiece was created by a truly unique sculptor, in whose works subtle humor, political and social satire, provocation and remarkable talent are surprisingly intertwined.

The Inverted Horse is a parody copy of the equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas, one of the most revered saints in the Czech Republic.

In 1999, a new Wenceslas was installed on Wenceslas Square, sculpted by David Černý: a sculpted saint calmly seated on an inverted dead horse suspended by its legs with its tongue hanging out of its mouth.

Initially, it was planned to install the work in the main building of the Czech post office, but the management rejected this option and the sculpture was placed on the opposite side of the square, at its lower end, opposite its prototype. After a short period of time, the monument was moved to the Lucerne shopping arcade on Vodickova Street.

The owner of the Lucerne Palace proposed the option of installing the “Horse” under the dome of the passage gallery. And until today, a huge figure of an inverted horse suspended by its legs - the height of the monument is about 5 meters, and the length is about 3 - hangs from under the dome of the shopping center.

Interestingly, the tongue hanging from the mouth of a dead horse constantly changes color. What is this connected with? It often has to be restored, because with enviable frequency the horse is left without a tongue.

It happens that local youth misbehave, showing off a torn piece to their peers - this is considered a kind of feat among young people, sometimes tourists steal a piece of a unique work as a souvenir, and it is very difficult to select material for a new language by color.

Tour guides like to bring tourists to the mall and talk about the upside down horse and the occasional tongue theft.

Sculpture “Chair on the Vlatva”

The sculpture “Chair on the Vlatva” is part of the exhibition of the Museum of Contemporary Art, located on the island of Kampa. The sculpture is a truly huge chair with a bent leg. By the way, the sculptor’s ideological plan is still unknown. There is a lot of controversy about this and there is a lot of speculation; everyone can put forward their own version, no matter how crazy it may seem.

In the 1980s, Czech sculptor Magdalena Etelova created a four-meter sculpture of a chair. Only in 2002 did it see the light and was presented to the public. The sculpture was installed at the gateway of the Vlatva River. However, it did not stand for long; during a flood in June, river waves washed the two-ton chair off its pedestal. The sculpture was found more than 40 km down the river. The giant chair was completely destroyed by water. The sculpture was not subject to restoration.

The city did not quickly recover from this major flood. But local residents managed to fall in love with this slightly strange sculpture. They identify it with the Kampa Museum and consider this chair a symbol of modern art. Therefore, in 2003, enthusiastic students from the School of Fine Arts built a modern version, an exact copy of the destroyed sculpture. The modern art object is called “Return of the Chair – 2”. The sculpture was installed in its original place, so it still points the way to the museum, being a kind of beacon of the institution.

The modern chair has grown somewhat, its height is 6 meters. And since the sculpture now weighs 8 tons, instead of 2, it is no longer afraid of rising water. The new chair will be able to withstand any flood.

The sculpture “Chair on the Vlatva” fits organically into the surrounding landscape, standing out worthily from other art objects on display in the museum.

Sculpture Swallow

One of the many complexes of ancient buildings in Prague, Clementinum, became the real parent of a small but very interesting modern monument - the sculpture “Vlaštovka - Vlaštovka (Swallow)” by Magdalena Popławska.

This sculpture has a simple, but at the same time touching story. Everything happened as if in some strange fairy tale.

One of the oldest and most beautiful castles, Clementinum, once held an exhibition of diploma works by students from one of the art and industrial schools in Prague. It featured many works by young authors, including a plastic sculpture created by an ordinary girl named Magdalena Poplawska. It was a statue of a seated little girl holding a figurine made of paper in her hands. Each of the visitors saw in her hands either an airplane, a crane, or a swallow.

At the end of the exhibition, all the students took their work, but for some reason the girl remained forgotten. After the exhibition was closed, due to a strange coincidence, it took root in the castle for many years. Then someone planted a plastic girl on the roof of one of the buildings of the Clementinum complex, and she, with her legs dangling, sits on that building to this day and seems to be watching passers-by, about to throw a paper figure at them.

There is another version of the further development of events: people say that the owner of this work returned and took the girl, but by that time the Prague residents loved the sculpture so much that they unanimously demanded its return, and the girl again came to her “father’s house” of Clementinum.

Tourists who look at the girl sitting on the roof often confuse the figurine with a real child. You can often hear exclamations and thoughts about how a child could get to such a height, and sometimes there is serious excitement about this.

No one understood exactly what kind of figurine was in the child’s hands. Until now, everyone calls it differently: airplane, swallow or crane. Later, local residents of Prague decided and affectionately named the sculpture “Swallow”. Maybe because it was the paper figurine that most reminded them of her, but the reason could also be the fact that the girl herself, fearlessly perched at a height of more than 4 meters, is associated by the townspeople with this brave bird.

"Harmony or sculpture of the Praying One"

Located in Prague, on the banks of the Vltava River.

It was erected in honor of the famous Indian humanist philosopher, preacher, artist, poet and writer Sri Chinmoy.

At the age of 12, Sri Chinmoy joined Sri Aurobindo's spiritual community. From that moment on, his entire life was devoted to the study of hidden divine powers in order to reveal the inner energy and knowledge of man and make him better. With his followers, he came to many countries and visited Prague several times.

Sri Chinmoy passed away in 2007. Two years later, monuments appeared in many cities around the world, including the capital of the Czech Republic, as a tribute to memory and respect for his bright teaching.

He was a friend and disciple of Sri Chinmoy. In his interviews, he always emphasized that the support of his spiritual teacher helped him become a sculptor.

Inspired by the ideas and philosophical teachings of a man whose mantras, mind and heart were dedicated to Peace and Universal Harmony, in 2009 Kaivalya created a monument in his honor.

A man-made work, created by man, without any deliberate effect, simply and naturally fit into the natural environment, located among the calm surface of the river, sky and trees.

The male figure of a man, depicted in full height and dressed in traditional Indian clothing, is captured at the moment of meditation. The preacher's handsome face is not only stern, but also kind. His pose is calm and solemn. And hands folded in a prayer gesture are a sign of participation in the Supreme Mind, which gives all living things the meaning of existence.

In 2013 there was a flood in Prague, the sculpture looked very impressive, judge for yourself.

Believing that it is spirituality, and not politics, that will bring harmony to the world, Sri Chinmoy wrote one and a half thousand books. He created meditation music, paintings and songs. Developed a unique program - “Raising the World with the Heart of Unity”. Its purpose is to celebrate the outstanding achievements of people in any field of activity, thereby inspiring them and making humanity more grateful and perfect.

Hundreds of people come to the Sri Chinmoy monument every day.

In an era when the world has lost its stability and art has lost its ideals, the figure of the Prayer appears as a symbol of the times, concealing hope and instilling faith in Goodness and Reason.

The sculpture of a praying man is located between the Charles Bridge and the Legia Bridge right next to the Kampa Museum.

Sculpture by Franz Kafka

The sculpture of Franz Kafka stands near the Quadrio shopping center above the metro station called Národní třída.

During the construction of the statue, it was taken into account that it would function smoothly in normal weather in Prague. In case of severe frost or snowfall, a special “wrapper” is put on the statue.

From the very beginning it was assumed that the square would contain a work of art. Investors contacted David Cherny, who had three different proposals, after which a choice was made in favor of this sculpture.

The monument to Franz Kafka is made in the form of a giant stainless steel head, 10 meters high and weighing 45 tons. It consists of 42 disks rotating in different directions (the disks themselves weigh 38 tons, and the rest of the weight comes from 1 kilometer of electrical wires). The discs have the ability to transform into a portrait of Franz Kafka for a few seconds, and then hide it, turning into a mirror in which you can see the reflection of nearby buildings. Small mirrors are located at the bottom of the sculpture, which serve the same function - to display the sculpture's surroundings. The maximum rotation speed of each disc is 6 revolutions per minute, the rotation speed is controlled remotely (they say that David Cherny himself controls the sculpture).

This unusual mirror sculpture by Franz Kafka in Prague cost the municipality 30 million crowns.

David Černý explained his concept like this: “Kafka’s work had a great influence on Prague and, therefore, the head belongs to the Shopping Center and the center of Prague.”

Franz Kafka is a fairly well-known Czech satirist writer all over the world. Perhaps the sculptor wanted to show with his work the diversity and versatility of the writer.

Sculpture Three Witches “flying”

One of the most famous and mystical sculptures in the capital of the Czech Republic is the park sculpture of three witches - “flights”, located in the Frantiskansky Garden, not far from the Catholic church. The pedestal of the three flying witches is an example of classic French park architecture. It was made by the famous sculptor and architect Josef Klimesch.

The sculpture represents three stone young ladies with outstretched arms and rushing after each other in the ritual dance of the Sabbath. The fact that the sculpted witches are dancing is indicated by their flying clothes and hair pulled back from their faces. Flying witches decorate the pedestal of a small drinking fountain.

The prototype of the sculpture of the three witches is the flying evil witches, who, according to legend, were seen in this area about 100 years ago.

The sculptural composition of three “flying” witches is unusual in its execution. Unlike other stone statues of mystical themes, it does not inherit the Gothic style and does not seek to emphasize external ugliness and horror. The images of flying witches, although not too detailed, are still quite peaceful. At first glance, they are completely faceless, devoid of character and similar to each other. However, if you look closely, the facial expression of each of the three witches expresses a certain emotion.

It is noteworthy that the sculptures with a human face do not have eyes. But their faces are decorated with light smiles, with which the sculptor probably wanted to emphasize the irony of finding such a sculpture in such a religious place, as well as the vain superstitions of tourists.

On the back side, all three stone figures are hollow. With the help of this technique, the author of the sculptural composition got rid of monumentality. In addition, the play of light and shadow on the stone adds expressiveness to the sculpture and thus compensates for the lack of elaborate forms and facial features of the figures.

The sculpture is very popular in Prague, because on the night from April 30 to May 1, the capital of the Czech Republic celebrates Walpurgis Night, the celebration program of which includes a visit to the fountain of the three “flying” witches.

Sculpture “Toadying”

One of the most provocative sculptures by David Cherny. The satire, wit and outright evil humor expressed in the sculpture splash over the edge, exposing and ridiculing sycophancy as a human vice.

Ironizing the theme of servility and groveling of one person to another, David Cherny in 2003 presented to the audience two white figures of five-meter tall naked headless men resting their hands on a concrete wall. The men bent to the ground at an angle of 90º and showed the world the most unflattering parts of their bodies, which were clearly not intended for kissing.

In such a provocative way, David Cherny conveys the essence of sycophancy as accurately as possible, directly indicating how exactly it is expressed in relationships between people. The absence of heads on the statues “gently hints” at the stupidity and mental narrow-mindedness of sycophants and those who succumb to their flattery.

It is noteworthy that the headlessness of the figures speaks not only of a “lack of brains”, and, consequently, of low intellectual development, but also of the absence of a face. It would seem that the obvious thing is that there is no head, no face. But here, too, Cerny’s subtle irony can be traced: a faceless sycophant, he loses his face, destroys himself as a person.

The way of expressing thoughts seems to be intended to arouse disgust in observers towards vice and the people suffering from it, because the sycophancy depicted by the sculptor is perceived as something dirty and humiliating.

However, the author’s satire and “sculptural slander” are not limited exclusively to the monumental expression of thought. In his work, in addition to ridiculing spiritual vices, David Cherny also included poisonous political irony. You can get acquainted with its contents by climbing a specially installed iron staircase and looking into the exaggerated anal openings of the statues, as if into the cesspool of political life.

A person climbing the stairs is presented with a non-stop video of Vaclav Klaus, the former President of the Czech Republic, and Milan Knizak, a famous Czech artist, sculptor, musician and dissident. The plot of the video is simple and at the same time edifying: Milan Knizek, with special zeal and diligence, feeds Vaclav Klaus porridge, flowing down the chin of the former President of the Czech Republic and dripping onto the table, and all this to the famous Queen track “We are the champions.”

If you delve into history, the following fact becomes obvious. During his life, David Černý repeatedly criticized Václav Klaus, who served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 1997, and was later elected president of the country in 2003. It was in 2003 that Cherny created the sculpture “Toadying.” Is it a coincidence?

“Monument to Sycophancy” was installed in the real center of contemporary art in the Czech Republic – the Futura gallery. The gallery, like the sculptures stored within it, is sharply different from its peers: Futura is a restored factory that has preserved the spirit of its industrial past.

Sculpture “Parable of the Skull”

On Golden Street, on the territory of Prague Castle, there is a rather unusual sculpture cast in bronze, the name of which is very philosophical - “The Parable of the Skull”. Although Prague residents believe that the title “Death Rapes Life” would be more suitable for it.

The sculpture represents a man in a humble knee-elbow position, with a huge skull on his back. The sculpture at the back is no less interesting; here you can see male assets polished to a shine by tourists, most likely for good luck. The weight of this sculptural composition exceeds 500 kg.

The installation was made by the famous Prague avant-garde sculptor Jaroslav Rona in 1993. He spent more than 250 thousand crowns (approximately 8,500 euros) on its creation. The master received worldwide recognition thanks to his truly unique work “Monument to Franz Kafka”. He is an artist, sculptor and graphic artist, the author of amazing sketches for the film “Franz Kafka’s America”, and he is also a permanent screenwriter for the Sklep Theater.

Everyone who sees this sculpture has conflicting feelings. A huge skull, overwhelming a faceless man with its mass, makes you think about what is probably the most important thing - what death is. “The Parable of the Skull” once again reminds us that nothing lasts forever, and everything comes to an end. The sculpture shows how helpless a person is before death. Some Prague residents also consider the sculptural composition a monument to prisoners of the ancient Dalibork prison who once died within its walls. That is, the main idea of this masterpiece cast in bronze is a reminder of death. Although some depression from what he saw is hidden by the tradition, invented by tourists, of rubbing one’s manhood for luck.

Yaroslav Ron himself states that this sculptural composition, like many of his other works, is dedicated to Franz Kafka, or, more precisely, to his works. The installation very accurately personifies the features and character of the characters in his works. Kafka's literary works are permeated with absurdity and fear of the hostile outside world, the highest authorities who awakened corresponding anxious feelings in their readers. Today, everyone who sees the sculpture “Parable of the Skull” experiences a similar range of feelings. The location of the sculpture is not accidental. After all, Franz Kafka once lived in one of these houses on Golden Street.

Monument to Franz Kafka in Prague

One of the Prague monuments to the outstanding writer of the 20th century, singer of the absurd Franz Kafka, is located not far from his birthplace, between the Prague Jewish Museum and the Church of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the 19th century, this was the gateway between the outcast area - the Jewish Joseph's Quarter - and Christian Prague. The dark mystical legends that hovered around the Jewish ghetto found an echo in the phantasmagoric world of Kafka's works, which, in turn, serves as a source of inspiration for artists of the present.

The sculptural composition, created by Jaroslav Róna in 2003, is often included in the top ten most unusual monuments in the world. Kafka sits on the shoulders of an empty suit, walking down the street in ankle-deep pavement. The writer gestures in the direction of his porter. Kafka was an eternal wanderer in his hometown: he wrote in German, since the Czech Republic was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he changed 13 rented apartments, did not receive recognition during his lifetime... One can only guess whether he knew for sure where he was heading.

One version goes back to Kafka’s story “The Story of a Struggle,” whose hero became jealous of a random fellow traveler and climbed onto his shoulders to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Finding himself in “someone else’s shoes,” the hero of the story got rid of envy of the stranger, since everyone has their own pain...

Another assumption is related to the Prague myths about the Golem - a clay doll that Rabbi Levi magically brought to life and made him his servant. Many humanists were influenced by Kafka's irrational metaphysical legacy. It had a huge influence on European literature and philosophical thought, gradually “directing” them.

The statue can also be seen as a call to rise above one's own pettiness and narrow-mindedness. After all, a person is often chained to his habits, like a suit, and inadequately assesses what is happening around him. Moreover, the external manifestation must be subordinate to the internal, that is, a person must be able to control his image, tell him where to follow. Only then does he gain true freedom.

Some see in Rhone's sculpture a social satire on the faceless bureaucratic apparatus, in which officials are equivalent to their functions. Here it is worth recalling the brilliant novel “The Master and Margarita”, in which an empty suit copes with official duties perfectly.

Such an abundance of interpretations is quite in the spirit of the writer’s books, which drag like a whirlpool, but at the same time avoid direct answers to the questions that arise.

London Booster sculpture

The famous Czech sculptor David Černý has long been known throughout the world for his unusual creations. In them, the author shows world realities in a humorous, even slightly satirical light. And so, in 2012, the world saw a new masterpiece of the famous Czech - the sculpture London Booster.

This work of art is located in the sculptor’s homeland, Prague, and anyone can look at it. Just visit the Chodov shopping center, next to which this creation is located on one of the children's playgrounds. It represents the well-known London double-decker bus with buttocks, which does push-ups from the floor on two giant hands. These arms are made from scraps of metal pipes, and inside the “athlete” there is an electric motor hidden that sets the entire structure in motion. The mechanism is equipped with powerful hydraulics, allowing the bus to be lifted to great heights. The author left the vehicle in the traditional red color, but slightly re-equipped the interior, and equipped the windows with screens on which videos are broadcast. Viewers also say that when performing exercises, the “athlete” convincingly grunts and sighs, which makes him even more naturalistic. You can see this miracle every day from 15.00 to 15.30. The only condition under which an athlete does not work is bad weather (heavy rain or snowfall).

Why the bus? And why did the master create an athlete of gigantic proportions from him? As David himself explains, such buses are the hallmark of the city. The opening of the installation itself was timed to coincide with the Olympics in London, where, in fact, the sculpture was located throughout the Olympics. The sculptor probably wanted to create some kind of symbol for all athletes.

The author of the sculpture also has his own explanations about the type of exercises. As Cherny says, push-ups are those exercises that are mandatory for any athlete’s training program. Moreover, this does not depend on the type of sport, weight category or gender. In addition, push-ups are a way to improve discipline in the army, correctional camps and prisons.

The theme of cars appears quite often in David's work. Previously, he created sculptures in the form of a car on four human legs and a car on the facade of the Prague Gallery. And the London Booster installation continues to amaze thousands of tourists and still preserves the memory of the Olympics. The creator hoped that the mechanism would remain durable at least until the end of the Olympic Games, but the sports bus exceeded all expectations and is still working perfectly.

Every day from 15:00 to 15:30 the bus is driven, which delights the children.

Sculpture "Embryo"

In Prague, on the corner of an unremarkable building, something attracts the attention of absolutely all passersby. This something is a sculptural composition by the notorious Czech sculptor David Cerny, whose name is “Embryo”. The building whose drainage pipe served as the umbilical cord for this amazing installation is the Na Zabradli Theater.

David Cerny created a sculpture resembling a human fetus back in 1996. To make it, he used three materials - metal, epoxy resin and plastic. The sculptor introduced ordinary LEDs inside the installation. The height of the embryo is 120 cm.

The appearance of the “Embryo” on the drainpipe was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Na Zabradli theater in Prague, which turned 50 years old. This is exactly how David Cherny decided to congratulate the theater group. The embryo was located on the corner of the facade of the house, clinging to a drainpipe, like an alien creature from a science-fiction film, and this happened on December 9, 2008. David Cherny carried out the production and placement of the installation at his own expense. This is the unusual gift the theater received for its “birthday”.
Embryo 2

Despite the fact that this is absolutely not a controversial sculpture, and besides, it fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape and looks quite organically on the external facade of the building, the sculptor still had to listen to many critical comments addressed to him. Many people didn't like her.

After the installation of the futuristic embryo, the performers, ordinary employees and even the theater management were divided into two warring camps. Some people liked the sculpture and are happy with the gift, while others demand it be dismantled immediately. This confrontation, unfortunately, is noticeable on the stage; the warring parties hardly coexist here. But for now the embryo is still in its place.

Despite the differences in opinion among townspeople, this sculpture is definitely popular among tourists. Firstly, this “Embryo”, according to the sculptor’s idea, symbolizes the origin of creative life. Secondly, after sunset, the embryo begins to flicker in a pinkish-red color, which gives the general atmosphere of the city a certain mystery. The abstract figure arouses increased interest among tourists even at night with its mysterious, pleasant glow and blinking. Well, and thirdly, this is the creation of the hand of David Cerny, and he is for Prague as Antonio Gaudi is for beautiful Barcelona.

Sculpture "Red Cars"

The idea of creating an international center for contemporary art in Prague, where Czech and foreign artists could exchange ideas and create together, originated with avant-garde sculptor David Černý in 2000.

Initially, the site was planned to open in a former meat processing plant in the industrial area of Holešovice. The sculptor came up with the original name “MeetFactory” for the center (loosely translated as “Meeting Factory”), taking advantage of the consonance of the English words “meet” (meet) and “meat” (meat). This pun gave impetus to the development of the idea for the design of the building. Black made two life-size blood-red cars from fiberglass, which were supposed to hang on the wall at the entrance, resembling bloody meat carcasses on hooks from afar.

However, floods in Prague in 2002 prevented the project from being implemented in Holešovice, and the MeetFactory club opened only in 2005 in an empty warehouse in the Smíchov district. Before moving to Smíchov, Cerny's red cars were exhibited at the Veletržní Palác. Today they decorate the facade of MeetFactory, following the author's idea. They are visible from everywhere and, like a beacon, attract visitors. Associations with a slaughterhouse are also reinforced by the red streaks painted on the walls of the club.

Despite the bloody allusions, the tasks of the art platform MeetFactory, which Cherny runs together with David Koller and Alice Nellis, are exclusively peaceful. It unites and supports all areas of contemporary art: painting, theater, cinema and music - and strives to bring them closer to the people. Exhibition halls give young artists from all over the world a chance to find their audience. The rich music program offers up to 6-8 events per month, including electro and indie parties, where you can spot Black himself with a can of beer. Among other things, red cars symbolize the atmosphere of “awesome” fun that reigns in the club.

Sculpture-fountain “Pissing Men” in Prague

The fountain (Čůrající postavy) 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.

The installation is made in a completely absurd style, in principle, like the works of the brilliant writer Franz Kafka. 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 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.

Today is a story about unusual sculptures and monuments of Prague. Their number and variety of styles are impressive: from classic to modern, from spiritual to outright provocation. They really brighten up a walk around the city and if you meet them again, you consider them your old acquaintances!
01. Fountain "Musicians" on Senovazhnaya Square(sculptor Anna Khroma). Four dancing bronze sculptures represent four rivers: the mandolin sculpture represents the Ganges, the flute sculpture represents the Amazon, the violin sculpture represents the Danube, and the trumpet sculpture represents the Mississippi. The fifth sculpture is an allegory of the Nile River. (To be honest, I didn’t see the fifth one)

02. Sculptures of some special, mysterious beauty. The musicians are naked and covered only with scraps of “bronze fabric”, but their faces are covered.

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05. It seemed to me that their wrapped faces symbolize absolute rapture with the sounds of music and disdain for their nakedness

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07. "Dancer". You are both a puppeteer and a puppet - brilliant!

09. So, you can even make the statues “write” your own phrase by sending an SMS message from your mobile phone to the number 724 370 770.

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12. These are probably the most famous figures of babies by the famous Czech master David Cerny. They are called "Babies" and crawl next to the museum on Kampa Island

13. You can climb on them, and no one is chasing anyone

16. This is how jokers depicted the crucifixion at the AMoYA - Artbanka Museum of Young Art at Karlova 2, Prague 1

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18. "Commander" at the Estates Theater. This is a monument in honor of the premiere of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni in 1787 (c sculptor Anna Chromi)

19. The “trick” of this character is that under the cloak... there is emptiness. This is also creepy

22. A funny shop without legs, occupied by voluptuous musicians

23. Very touching guys are standing on one of the platforms of the Prague Main Station ( Wilsonova 300/8, Prague)

24. On the embankment, next to the Kampa Museum, the Dalai Lama stands and blesses the river buses passing by

25. Kafka is everywhere. This one is located at Praha 1, Dusni 141/12

26. "Sigmund Freud, the hanging intellectual" (with sculptor David Cherny). Plastic and epoxy resin sculpture symbolizes disconnection intelligentsia from the people.

27. A detached look and a hand in his pocket somehow hints that the comrade is completely indifferent to his safety, and in general, he has a philosophical attitude towards issues of life and death

28. Another interesting object “hovering” over Prague. Golden bone... (no comment)

29. And this sweetest car on human legs is called “Quo vadis - People's Car of the GDR “Trabant”” and stands in the courtyard of the German Embassy ( Vlašská 19, Prague 1, Malá Strana).

30. Prague boasts many lovely maidens. For example, this lady lights the way with her stone torches on one of the supports of the Chekhov Bridge

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32. In general, naked young maidens everywhere sparkle with their charms on the facades of Prague houses

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35. Some fabulous frog thoughtfully smokes a pipe on the pier

36. Another option for contemporary art in Prague is street art. For example, a whole orchestra of colored wire figures

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40. Graffiti in the passages is very colorful and cheerful. It’s curious that no one will spoil them with other inscriptions

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