Controversial Sculptures by David Cerny
By Village Mayor • May 8th, 2009 • Category: Architecture, Art, Latest Post, The Best of Village of Joy, WeirdContinuing our article series about the most creative artists in the world this time we present David Cerny from Czech Republic.
Wikipedia: “David Černý (born December 15, 1967 in Prague) is a Czech sculptor whose works can be seen in many locations in Prague. His works tend to be controversial. He gained notoriety in 1991 by painting a Soviet tank pink that served as a war memorial in central Prague. As the Monument to Soviet tank crews was still a national cultural monument at that time, his act of civil disobedience was considered “hooliganism” and he was briefly arrested.”
He also has a very bizarre website http://www.davidcerny.cz/). Well, happy viewing, and of course don’t forget to comment.
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Permanent Installation at FUTURA Gallery Prague

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)
info: you climb a ladder and stick your head in the sculpture’s arse to see a video of two Czech politicians feeding each other slop to a soundtrack of ‘We are the Champions
year: 2003
material : mixed media
height 5.2 m (17.06 ft)
address: Holečkova 49, Prague 5, Czech Republic
“Nation for Itself Forever” (Narod sobe navzdy)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)
year: 2002
height: 10 meters high (32.81 ft) (somehow hard to believe, maybe the statue itself hangs in such height, correct me if I’m wrong)
more: to keep the statue it has been changed more or less due to fear of protests that the project is aimed at National Theater itself.
Two Proposals to Outdoor Metro Tunnel
First proposal

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)
Second proposal

(Image credits: http://www.davidcerny.cz via villageofjoy.com)
station: Butovická
info: in this moment the development of the project is very uncertain
Two Peeing Guys (Sculpture)

(Image credits: Chaymation via villageofjoy.com)

(image credits: Irwin via villageofjoy.com)
info: ”The idea is disarmingly simple. Two bronze sculptures pee into their oddly-shaped enclosure.
While they are peeing, the two figures move realistically. An electric mechanism driven by a couple of microprocessors swivels the upper part of the body, while the penis goes up and down. The stream of water writes quotes from famous Prague residents.
Visitor can interrupt them by sending SMS message from mobile phone to a number, displayed next to the sculptures. The living statue then ‘writes’ the text of the message, before carrying on as before.” – Chaymation
year: 2004
height: 210cm (6.89ft)
address: Prague, Czech Republic
Embryo (Installation)

(Image credits: pavel-helge.dk, his website: pavel-helge.dk via villageofjoy.com)
year: 1996
materiál : metal, foam, LED
height: 120 cm (3.94ft)
address: Czech Republic, Prague 1, Namesti U Sv. Anny, close to the Charles bridge in Stare Mesto
Car with Legs (Sculpture)

(image credits: leonbarnard via villageofjoy.com)
Svaty Vaclav (Sculpture)

(Image credits: jp1958 via villageofjoy.com)
Lucerna Palace’s central atrium is dominated by Czech sculptor David Černý’s dead horse ridden by St. Wenceslas. It is supposed to be an ironic twist on the St. Wenceslas statute in the square outside.
address: Wenceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic
“Hanging out”

(Image credits: Curious Expeditions via villageofjoy.com)

(Image credits ahisgett via villageofjoy.com)
info: this sculpture, more often referred to as the Hanging man was first exhibited at the exhibition “Respekt 97” at the Villa Richter in the Prague’s Lesser Town. Later 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.
year: 1996.
dimensions: 233 x 60 x 45 cm (7.64 x 1.96 x 1.48 ft)
Zhizhkov TV Tower with Crawling Babies

(Image credits: laura padgett via villageofjoy.com)

(Image credits: CREAMASTER via villageofjoy.com)
Žižkov television tower is the highest tower in the Czech Republic, it was completed in 1992 and hosts an observation point, a restaurant and a TV transmitter.
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October 27th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
who makes sculptures os grown men taking wizzes???????//
October 19th, 2009 at 6:55 am
I like the crawling babies at the Kampa Museum – I understand the sculpture this way – babies born with a body to be able to work – but without face – not to speak out – hardly breathe just focus on the work that needs to be done daily
October 18th, 2009 at 9:57 am
FYI, the brilliant sculpture of the masturbating golden guy on Narodni Divadlo was never constructed or installed. It was proposed and being developed when members of the board behind the theater shut it down (for fear of losing their jobs, says Cerny).
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
why does everyone think an embryo is disgusting?
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
That gold statue in the Nation for Itself, what the heck is he doing? is he unloading? he couldn’t be. Looks like hes holding a champaigne bottle, but why is he putting it between his leg?
The two peeing guys, is the water supposed to be blood? the pool is red.
And the Embryo, disgusting, no other word.
Then again, an art is an art is an art
August 30th, 2009 at 1:58 am
on the contrary…
I think “two men peeing” is a better one, given the way it is made. I think Cerny is challanging that very point: You have to get past the absurdity of “two men peeing” to appreciate its composition.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:22 am
yay.. that was awesome.. but the peeing one is disgusting.. but i adored the designer!!!
July 4th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Love them all. Want to go to Prague to see them.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Loving the car with legs sculpture
May 29th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Everything art should be. They are beautiful to look at, well made, provokes thought and wonder from the viewer and gives a message from the artist. All combined in a entertaining way.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am
these are GREAT…. what we need is more humor in the world & a LOT less “P.C.” – - good stuff!
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
cool
May 16th, 2009 at 7:50 am
“Hanging out” and Car with Legs are realy impressive. all the rest is terrible (IMHO)
May 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
these are fabulous, smart, entertaining,
May 11th, 2009 at 1:52 am
great but some mens not good
May 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am
what can i say,i just shocked by them