More public art

My favorite public art so far resulted from a student art competition. The winning entries on the theme of Van Gogh are displayed in the windows of this building adjacent to St. Martin’s Dome. This building has yet to be restored, and the paintings provide a welcome temporary brightening of the crumbling structure.

St. Martin’s, just east of the communist-built expressway, dates back to the 16th century and was the coronation site for 11 kings and 8 queens of Hungary (of which Bratislava was the capital for several hundred years).

On some days, an enterprising performance artist sets up shop by “The Gazer” statue, with his hat out for tourist donations.

A few yards down Rybárskabrána from The Gazer is a dapper old man with a hat in his hand, Schööne Naci (“nice old man” – no relation to the Nazis). My department head alerted me to this one. It is based on a real person who died about 40 years ago, but was famous throughout the city. Walking all day along on the streets, he greeted the ladies in the traditional Viennese manner, kissing their hands, wearing white gloves and a hat all the times. I’m told he was considered a bit crazy but very nice.

Andy Warhol sits outside the Camouflage Restaurant on Venturska in the Pedestrian Zone.

The biggest square in Old Town is Hviezdoslavovo Námestie, named after the most popular Slovak poet, Josef Hviezdoslav. I have been trying to think of major American squares or parks named after beloved poets – Walt Whitman, perhaps?

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