Statue Removed from Prague’s Železná Street After National Theater Request

The statue known as Il Commendatore, or Cloak of Concious, was removed from Železná street in Prague 1 this Wednesday, according to city district spokeswoman Karolína Šnejdarová. The removal was prompted by a request from the National Theatre, which argued the sculpture did not artistically complement the architecture of the Stavovské theater. The town hall is currently discussing a new location for the statue.

the National Theatre had long expressed concerns that the statue clashed with the ancient and architectural context of the theater building.

Created by Czech sculptor Anna Chromy (1940-2021), the piece was originally intended as a temporary installation. Chromy named it Il Commendatore after a character from Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, commemorating the opera’s premiere at the Estates Theater in 1787, which the draped cloak is meant to represent.

The statue had stood near the theater since 2000, but has faced criticism over the years, with some describing it as cheesy or substandard.

in 2003, students and pedagogues from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague protested against what they perceived as the overabundance of statues in Czech public spaces. Milan Knížák, then rector of the Academy and director of the National Gallery, was especially critical of chromy’s work, stating she was largely unknown in the art world and her sculptures failed to meet even basic quality standards. He described her work as resembling that of “untalented high school students, affected by adolescent ideas with a tendency towards kitsch and latent pornography.”

Marina Abramović Statue Removed from Prague’s Old Town Square

The Marina Abramović statue, a controversial addition to Prague’s Old Town square, has been removed due to repeated vandalism. Installed in January 2024, the statue, intended as a temporary art installation, faced public criticism and damage before its removal in November 2024. It is currently in storage at the National Theatre while Prague 1 officials seek a permanent, dignified location for the artwork.

Background and Installation

In January 2024, a statue of performance artist Marina Abramović was installed in Prague’s Old Town Square. The statue, depicting Abramović in a seated position, was intended as a temporary installation by the Municipal District of Prague 1. The installation quickly sparked debate among residents and tourists,with some praising it as a thought-provoking piece of art and others criticizing its aesthetic and placement within the historic square. Radio Prague reported on the initial public reaction.

Vandalism and removal

Despite initial hopes for respectful engagement with the artwork, the statue became a target for vandalism. according to Karolína Šnejdarová, a spokesperson for the Prague 1 district, repeated acts of vandalism lead to the decision to remove the statue. These acts included the misuse of the statue’s base as a trash can and,in some instances,as a toilet. Prague.eu details the reasons for the removal.

Current Status and Future Plans

The statue remains the property of the Municipal District of Prague 1 and is currently being stored in the depository of the National Theatre. A spokesperson for Prague 1 stated that the district is “actively negotiating a suitable place for its dignified and permanent location.” The search for a new location aims to ensure the statue is displayed in a manner that respects both the artwork and the public space. Further updates on the statue’s future location will be announced by the Municipal district of Prague 1.