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.
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.
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.
You may Like these:
- Statues of Ice Hockey Players
- Biggest Monolithic Statue of Nandi Lepakshi
- Mythical Turul bird Budapest
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A really eccentric piece of art! I wonder why it reminds me so much of the silent film Safety Last (1923). Wonder if the sculptor watched it for inspiration!
The hanging man is surely looking grotesque. I was reminded about a book that I had read many years ago by Alistair Maclean titled, ‘Puppet on Chain’, where the villain kills people and hangs them from a chain from the roof of a building. Wonder what was going through David Cerny’s mind when he did this sculpture.
Haha! I would’ve probably thought it was a real person too! That’s so crazy! It’s definitely an interesting work of art.
How interesting! You find some of the most unusual things in our travels! I want to see this statue in person, the Hanging Man in OLOMOUC, CZECH REPUBLIC
Yes, I have seen this and I absolutely love such bizarre pieces of art! People are so creative, and so weird 😀
Hahahha. It’s really weird. I’ve not come across any of David Cerny’s works but I think it’s really a creative one. Going to Czech, I look forward to see the Hanging Man
How utterly strange. Thats what I love about travel though. Sometimes the bizarre is downright hilarious
I’ve actually never seen anything quite like this before! How interesting to have a statue hanging up in the air. I bet this is an interesting place to visit (I love the Czech Republic!).
That is an interesting sculpture. I would have been intrigued to walk closer to get a better view as you were. I’m happy he’s hanging from his arm though and not anywhere else!
I saw something similar on the streets of Slovakia. Not a hanging man but curious sculptures in metal and in human forms.
This was great! I love art like this, which not only shocks as well as provokes. David Cerny’s work is pretty impressive…thanks for introducing me to his work 🙂
Amazing! In Manhattan a few years back, there was an art installation of life-sized statues of people on top of very tall buildings. Looking at them from below one had the terrifying sensation that they were going to jump down!
Kamini.
Beautiful snap!. In my home town Bellary, there was this ritual of hanging a man for few minutes (on shoulders)during Moharaam.
A stop n see picture!
:)))))))))))))))))))))))
Gorgeous !!
Warm greetings, Anna
marvelous photos !
Very cool. I wonder if he's ticklish? 😉
Intriguing it is!! I would love to know the "story" behind it — if you do, I hope you'll share it with us! Have a lovely weekend, Indrani!
Weird but fascinating.
Indrani, cool photos. And what a weird sculpture! It does make a person think! Have a happy weekend!
How lovely and quirky!
intriguing !
Just returned from a tired days field work and looking for food for thought. Your post is reLLY INTERESTING AND VERY MUCH WORTH WHILE .I must say the sculpture and the photograph both are excellent.
Think I would be worried he let go, good photo of him
This is probably typical of the region. I saw so many strange statues during my visit to Bratislava.
Wow, Nice find! looking interesting……
So nice, great photos!
Amazing clicks! Very intriguing! 😀
nice one
His arm must hurt by the time !
definetely not a statue as weird as this !
Nice! It looks like an old Laurel and Hardy movie 😉
Greetings from the Netherlands,
dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com
Art has many forms and I guess weird is one too anyway the creator has achieved one thing, the statue is addictive.
Wow! Lovely sculpture, with an uncanny resemblance to Mahatama Gandhi. Nice post!
Brilliant post and fantastic photos!
Now that's something completely new..
Interesting and unique!
Nice Indrani, He seems like enjoying the view from up there!!!
Wow, fascinating…
I looked it up, and the man is supposed to be Sigmund Freud. It *is* a funny sculpture.
In New Jersey, there is a place called Grounds for Sculpture. Some of the more interesting sculptors include George Segal who does realistic people waiting on a bread line and J. Seward Johnson who recreated Impressionist paintings.
Wow!! Very unique!!
Fantastic photo ~ thanks, carol, xo
wow great to read,Awesome captures.
That's awesome.
I've never seen anything quite like this. I must admit it is unique.
That is very interesting find.
this is the kind of sculpture that would be synonymous with the city its in, don't you think? and the fact that i haven't heard about it until you wrote about it here is saying something. they should put more advertisement on this.
Hang in there!
Aloha
how very strange!
Seems interesting..
I welcome you very warmly.
I know Olomouc. This beautiful Czech city.
Lovely pictures.
Greetings.
Lucia
Perfect blue sky for photographing this unique place. The hanging man is bizarre.
This is great, Indrani, and certainly different from anything I've seen before!! Thanks for sharing!! Hope you have a beautiful weekend!
That’s interesting and you had great eyes for it!
Wow, he's the best.
Oh wow! It's really weird! I haven't come across anything of this sort, but nice to see it on your blog!
Good post Indrani.
greetings, Joop