The intention of the Sculpture for Brno is stalled; currently, two out of ten stand

Brno - In Brno, the city's plan for the installation of ten sculptures over ten years has been delayed. The "Sculptures for Brno" project was introduced by the city council four years ago. To date, it has produced two objects, one of which was not even officially unveiled, and the square where it was installed still needs to be completed. According to Mayor Roman Onderka (Czech Social Democratic Party), the project was partly slowed down by the crisis and partly by differing ideas of how the sculptures should look. However, in response to a query from the Czech News Agency, he emphasized that new installations will follow in the coming weeks.
    Two sculptures are expected to appear in the reconstructed Moravian Square. A man lifting a block from the ground while squatting is meant to symbolize justice. The panel for his installation is ready in front of the Supreme Administrative Court. Another object, although not a direct sculpture, is to be placed nearby. It will be a historical map of Brno. In the vicinity of the cathedral, technicians will erect a cross that dominated the airport area during last year's visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Brno.
    The "Sculptures for Brno" initiative originally had a different tone. It was meant to commemorate personalities associated with Brno. The authors of the idea talked about the writer Karel Čapek, who briefly studied in the city, actor Hugo Haas, who worked in the theater in Brno, and the literary figure Jiří Mahen. He spent a significant part of his life in Brno and is the founder of the city library, which today bears his name.
    According to Onderka, no one has backed down from the goal of installing a statue for these personalities. However, the city council will announce artistic competitions for individual sculptures gradually, as suitable spaces are reconstructed. He also mentioned other plans. "There has been consideration of a statue of Martin Středa next to the Jesuit Church," he said. Středa was one of the defenders of Brno during the Thirty Years' War. Bishop Vojtěch Cikrle also reportedly expressed the idea that a statue of the apostles Cyril and Methodius should be unveiled for the 1150th anniversary of their arrival in Great Moravia. Believers are said to be willing to contribute to it.
    On the other hand, the mayor admitted the failure of the plan to erect an equestrian statue of Margrave Jošt of Luxembourg. The artistic design by sculptor Marius Kotrba, which won the artistic competition, did not appeal to the councilors. They will thus have to wait for a new competition. The proposal for a fountain with fish-shaped objects in Dominican Square, formerly the Fish Market, also failed.
    According to the mayor, it is necessary to select objects with caution because they will not only recall the depicted figure but also the time when the statue was created. He mentioned the light bulbs next to the Centrum department store, which are meant to honor the inventor of electricity, Thomas Alva Edison. He electrified Brno's Mahen Theater as the first theater building in Central Europe. "Today, as the standards from the European Union have changed, the light bulbs will slowly begin to disappear. I just hope that our descendants in generations to come will know what has been erected next to the Centrum," he added.