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Art in Prague Photos

Art in Prague

Trip Over to the Czech Republic

Everywhere you look there is art in Prague, whether it is in the form of the statues on the Charles Bridge, the architecture of the old and modern buildings, political statements or modern art. Prague is an amazingly beautiful city and the two weeks I spent there was barely enough time to explore everything. Fortunately Prague is a great city for walking, as all the works I mention in this story are easily found without going too far or up many hills, we’ll cover the more far flung and lofty in other stories.

Beautiful things are everywhere, you just come across them. On a bench in Wencelas Square casually sits a perfect bronze sculpture of a man, I can’t find any information of who he is, who created him or what he represents, but I like him. He just sits there in the square watching the passing parade of shoppers, sightseers, and locals, while good King Wencelas looks down from his horse at the top.

Further up through the old town next door to the Spanish Synagogue, in Dusni Street in the historic Jewish Quarter, you will find a statue by Jaroslav Rona, of Franz Kafka being carried on the shoulders of a giant headless man. Based on one’s of Kafka’s stories, “Description of a Struggle”, which tells the story of a political candidate carried through the streets of Prague on another man’s shoulders. But in this case the man being carried is Kafka himself. There are often crowds gathered around this statue, and tour groups stop there, we had a coffee outside a great coffee shop across the road so I could pick my moment to run across and get some photos.

Art is found not just out on the streets and large galleries, small galleries are everywhere, like Inter Art Gallery in Husova Street is worth popping in to. This one showing art by Gor Avetisyan, and run by his sister is really interesting, a very talented family. Beautiful 3D details added to paintings using plaster really bring them to life, and the little statuettes and vases are exquisite.

At the foot of Petrin Hill, not far from where you catch the funicular to the top of the hill, you will find the Memorial to the Victims of Communism unveiled in 2002, twelve years after the fall of communism. The bronze plaque reads, “The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism”. The memorial, created by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek, and architects Jan Kerel and Zdenek Holzel, shows seven bronze figures descending a flight of stairs, the further they are from you the more decayed they are, their bodies breaking up, limbs missing. The bronze strip up the middle of the path showing the alarming statistics of those impacted by communist rule, those arrested, those forced into exile, those who died in prison, those shot trying to escape, those executed, a sobering moment in a beautiful park.

On Narodni Street in a small arcade is a bronze plaque showing hands reaching out from the wall, dated 17.11.1989, the date of the Velvet Revolution, this memorial is to the students who were attacked and beaten by the communist police desperately trying to hold on to power eight days after the fall of the Berlin Wall – the day 41 years of communist rule came to an end, and Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic, 17th November is a national holiday in the Czech Republic.

Man from "Slight Uncertainty"

Man from




Hanging above the street just near our favourite coffee and pastry shop in the New Town area, Boulangerie Patisserie, a man and a woman hanging from umbrellas, called “Slight Uncertainty” by the artist Michal Trpak, they represent feelings during the depression. I guess slight uncertainty would be a bit of an understatement if the only thing stopping you from dropping to the road was an umbrella, but you can imagine where he was going here. Prague is filled with interesting and unusual things, as you amble around the streets don’t forget to look up as well as all around.

There is such great respect for art that they don’t confine it to galleries and museums, it is everywhere, shopping centres, hanging above the streets and in arcades. One piece that the powers that be deemed too offensive to be in public is displayed in the grounds of a private museum. They took it promising to always leave their gates open so the public could access it if they wanted to – and they do, in droves! The fountain called “Piss” by Czech artist David Cerny, can be found in the grounds of the Franz Kafka Museum in Mala Strana. The bronze basin of the fountain is the shape of the map of the Czech Republic, there are two gyrating mechanical “gentlemen” standing in it peeing on their country. Apparently, visitors can instruct the “gentlemen”, by SMS, to write messages in pee, and they do, with much hip swivelling and penis waggling- but that’s another story.

David Cerny has over ten sculptures displayed in Prague, all considered to be slightly offensive but amusing, he has been accused of being a hooligan, and some have tried, and failed, to have his work banned. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it – on the grand scale of offensive things in public, in my view, you’re trying to ban the wrong thing!

After leaving the Franz Kafka Museum walk down through Mala Strana before going under Charles Bridge, on the right is a glass shop, Artel, all things crystal couture are available here. (I bought a beautiful water carafe that I just love on my bed side table, and many pairs of earrings). Then go under the bridge and just to the left is a little shop called Vanda and Valerie, tucked into the wall of the bridge selling the most amazing hand painted mugs, (yes, I bought some!), earrings and other nick nacks, definitely worth taking a look before going to look at the Lennon Wall – the wall’s owners, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, allow the graffiti, song lyrics and messages of peace to remain there. Occasionally it gets painted over then it all starts again. On the anniversary of John Lennon’s death there is a candle light vigil.

Come back down from the Lennon Wall and continue along the path through Kampa Park on the west side of the Vltava River. The Giant Bronze Babies are near the Kampa Museum, these sculptures of crawling babies all have weird smushed in faces. More of these babies can be seen crawling up the TV tower.

The Kampa Museum houses the sculpture garden, and many more fascinating art works on display inside. Looking out of the window to the river you can see the Yellow Penguins, by the Cracking Art Group, made from recycled plastic bottles taken from landfill sites. The penguins are marching in protest of what is happening to their Antarctic home due to global warming and environmental destruction.

Sitting out on the river at one of the breakwaters is a giant timber chair, made by Magdalena Jetolova called the Vltava Chair, the chair was washed away in one of the great floods and found 50kms down river.

Back across the river in Husova Street, between the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge if you look up you will be shocked to see a man dangling by one hand from a piece of wood jutting out from the roof, at first everyone gasps – is a suicide attempt? No, it’s another of David Cerny’s statues. This one is Sigmund Freud hinting at the powerlessness and hopelessness of man in the modern world, but not willing to let go.

Behind shops near Narodni Trida Metro Station sits an enormous rotating head of Franz Kafka by David Cerny. It has 42 rotating layers and when they all align it forms the Czech writer’s face. There is a cocktail bar nearby, the perfect venue to watch this metamorphosis take place.

Back near Wencelas Square, inside an art nouveau arcade called Lucena Pasaz, just up Stepansha Street opposite the Grand Hotel Europa, there is another David Cerney sculpture, this time possibly mocking the current Czech President, Vavlav Klaus, a frequent subject of Cerney’s derision. Here as King Wencelas sitting in the same pose as King Wencelas on the statue outside in Wencelas Square, astride his horse, but he doesn’t seem to realise the horse is dead, upside down and unceremoniously suspended from the ceiling.

David Cerny never comments publicly on his works – so over to you – make of it what you will….

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Prague

Itinerary for Trip Over to Prague and Berlin

Flights from Sydney to Prague via Dubai with Qantas/Emirates

Stayed for 2 weeks in a beautiful apartment near the Dancing House, found on Airbnb.

Had a driver from On Day Trip pick us up in Prague and drive us to Berlin

Stayed for 2 weeks in Berlin in one of the magnificent penthouse apartments at Gorki Apartments near Rosenthaler Platz U-Bahn Station.

Return flights with Lufthansa from Berlin to Frankfurt, then Qantas/Emirates from Frankfurt to Sydney via Dubai.

Had a great time exploring the city of Palermo, it's been quite an adventure!! Off back to London today.....#Palermo #palermosicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
This parade has been going up and down Cirdo Umberto in Taormina all afternoon!! Lots of drums, dancing and horses wearing more flowers than any horse is meant to!! I'm still not sure what it's all about - but is that important??.#taorminasicily #taormina #cittataormina #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
The wildly changeable weather in Sydney lately,🌧 last week I needed a snorkel and flippers to get out of my front door!!🥴#raininsydney #wildweather #Sydney #sydneyaustralia #flowersintherain #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
This seems to be all it does in Sydney these days, although there is a fine day forecast for tomorrow 😊 As I walked through St Leonards Park this morning on my way to work, there was everything from torrential to drizzle. Most of NSW north of Sydney has completely gone under in floods, so the rain in Sydney is nothing compared to what others are going through 😒#stleonardspark #rainfall #waterwaterandmorewater #morningcommute #walkinthepark #northsydney #northsydneyintherain
Flying into London, it's been a while since I have flown in during daylight hours, without low cloud or fog to get a few pics from the air!! It would have been better with full sun 🌞 maybe next time....so lovely to walk through St James's Park🥰🌺🥂#London #Thames #riverthames #buckinghampalace🇬🇧 #kensingtonpalace #stjamespark #stjamesspalace #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #solotravelinlondon
The Archeological Park in Syracuse, a very interesting place, Lady to get around with well marked trails to follow so you don't miss anything. Although all the sculptures add to the ambience, I was disappointed to find none of them are more than 5 years old, not what I consider ancient archaeological discoveries!!#syracuse #sicily #arceologicalpark #historicalsicily #soloadventure #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravel #
The never ending parade in Taormina continues......#taorminasicily #taormina #sicilytravel #sicilytourism #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Just behind the markets in Ortigia, Syracuse, looking over the Mediterranean.#solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #ortigia #syracuse #sicily #meditteranean
Taormina has to be one of the prettiest towns, there is a festival on that seems to involve a lot of flowers, and there are a few thousand more people here than I was hoping for, but we all seem to be getting along!!.#taormina #taorminasicily #visitsicily #flowers #italianhistory #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
Manoel Island, just next to Valletta in Malta, was the Royal Navy Base prior to 1964. Fort Manoel is apparently being renovated to make it safe to visit. But all the other buildings that were used by the Navy have just been left to fall apart. It is the strangest place, all the buildings would have been functional, but have just left derelict for the past 60 years..#manoelisland #Malta #derelictbuildings #valletta #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
My last evening in Syracuse, it has been a really lovely place to explore. Making my way up the east coast of Sicily, I'm off to Taormina today. .#syracuse #syracusesicily #syracusesicilystreets #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly #traveladdict
I went all over the place today, 23,000 steps!! Walked down through St James's Park to the Jewel Tower behind Westminster Abbey, then caught the tube to Canary Wharf to look at the Whale made from waste. Then Elizabeth line to Paddington for lunch. Walked from there to Regent's Park, then down through Marylebone and Mayfair, and as it was now such a lovely sunny evening, I walked around St James's Park again.....now having a glass of wine looking over Green Park🥂💖#Paddington #paddingtonbear #jeweltower #canarywharf #regentspark #stjamessPark #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything#solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
A short train trip from Syracuse, then a walk up the hill to Noto. A town with more churches per square inch than I've ever seen!!!!.#noto #notosicily #sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
Easter Sunday in Palermo, not a chocolate Easter egg to be found!! I caught a bus up to Monreale as I had been told the gold mosaics in the duomo were amazing. I think a catholic church service for Easter is not the place an atheist should be! Even if the building was amazing, dating back to the 1100s. I just can't agree with them asking the poorest people to donate money to the wealthiest organisation in the world, and giving nothing in return, the homeless will still be on the streets tonight! I then caught a bus to Mondello, apparently the most famous beach in Sicily. Looks lovely but I have never been hounded by so many Indians wanting to sell me a sarong😧!!#monreale #mondello #Sicily #eastersundayinsicily ##solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme ##seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After a bit of window shopping and a long walk through Hyde Park to Kensington Garden, it rained, it was windy, the sun tried to come out, then it got really cold. I went to the 'Dress Code' exhibition at Kensington Palace, the Palace is in the middle of a major conservation project have all the sash windows replaced so the whole building is covered in scaffolding......#hydepark #hydeparklondon #kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardens #fortnums #oxfordstreet #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
The Spring Flower Show 💐every year at David Jones city store, not sure that this one is my favourite 🤔 what do you think?#davidjonesflowershow #sydneycbd #sydney #flowerseverywhere #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

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