David Cerny Sculpture – Hanging Man of Olomouc

One of the most bizarre David Cerny sculpture is this ‘Hanging Man’.

I stopped stunned seeing a man hanging from a pole sticking out of Town Hall of Olomouc (pronounced OH-la-mootz), Czech Republic. Initially I saw the silhouette and couldn’t believe my eyes; I strained to see if there was any kind of movement.

As I got closer I realized it was just a statue, but what a weird one! A diminutive, Colonel Sanders-esque figure dangled suicidally from a rooftop.

Since I hadn’t briefed myself about this I was surprised. Books and sites don’t make any highlighted mention of it, meaning the sight of hanging man of Olomouc in Czech Republic was casual.

Hanging man at Olomouc square

David Cerny Sculpture

David Cerny Sculpture in Olomouc

Later going through various websites, I gathered some info about this Man Hanging Out. This sculpture is often referred to as the Hanging Man.

This tiny, bearded figure of Man Hanging Out, casually swinging from a beam with his hand in his pocket is, in fact, Sigmund Freud. This statue was created in 1997 by David Cerny. It is his ambiguous response to the question of what role the intellectual would play in the new millennium.

But it is often missed by tourists watching their footing on the cobbles during the walking tour of Upper Square of Olomouc.

It was first exhibited at the exhibition “Respekt 97″ at the Villa Richter in the Prague’s Lesser Town. Later it was installed at the Czech Cultural Center in Berlin; Moderna Muset in Stockholm; National Theatre in London; and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London.

Finally the statue got its present position in the vicinity of the Olomouc astronomical clock in 1997 . There are chances that it may be shifted again.

Hanging man of Olomouc is just one of the bizarre works of David Cerny. If you wish to see more bizarre works by David Cerny, you can click on the link here.

David Cerny Sculpture

Have you seen anything weird like this? Let me know in the comment box and I will add the link to this post.

Bizarre David Cerny Sculptures

David Cerny is a contemporary Czech sculptor known for his provocative and often bizarre artworks that challenge traditional perceptions and provoke thought and discussion. David Cerny’s sculptures are often controversial and elicit strong reactions from viewers, but they also serve as important catalysts for dialogue and reflection on contemporary society, politics, and human nature.

Some of his most notable sculptures include:

Metalmorphosis: Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this sculpture consists of a giant head divided into layers that rotate independently, creating an ever-changing facial expression.

Brownnosers: A series of bronze sculptures depicting suited men bending over, heads buried in their briefcases. These sculptures, installed in various locations, critique corporate culture and conformity.

Piss: This controversial sculpture, located in Prague, features two mechanical figures urinating into a pool shaped like the Czech Republic. The figures spell out quotes from famous Czech personalities with their streams of water.

Babies: A series of oversized, crawling infant sculptures with bar codes instead of faces. These sculptures, installed on the Zizkov Television Tower in Prague, are unsettling yet thought-provoking.

Horse: A 7-meter-tall statue of the Czech national hero Jan Žižka riding an upside-down dead horse. This sculpture, located in Prague’s Old Town Square, challenges traditional notions of heroism and victory.

Quo Vadis: A sculpture of a drowning man in a suit located in the Vltava River in Prague. The figure appears to be struggling against the current, symbolizing the human condition and existential struggles.

In Utero: A giant sculpture of a pregnant woman located in Prague’s DOX Centre for Contemporary Art. Visitors can enter the sculpture and view a video projected onto the interior walls, exploring themes of birth and rebirth.

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