Overview
David Černý (born December 15, 1967) is an award-winning, Jewish-Czech sculptor whose controversial works can be seen publicly in many European countries and the United States. According to Sternstein, Černý’s work is Czech hooliganism at its best. Though it’s tempting to group Černý with many other artists of his generation as ‘rebellious’ or ‘anarchist’, Sternstein argued that this would be an oversimplification. Černý’s highest aim is a self-reflective laugh, not social chaos. Despite its illegality, ‘hooliganism’ stands for just that.
‘Metalmorphosis’ | Franz Kafka | Mechanical statue | 2014
‘Metalmorphosis’ | Franz Kafka | Mechanical statue | 2014
‘Metalmorphosis’ | Franz Kafka | Mechanical statue | 2014
‘Metalmorphosis’ | Franz Kafka | Mechanical statue | 2014
Man Hanging Out | Sigmund Freud | 1996
Man Hanging Out | Sigmund Freud | 1996
Man Hanging Out | Sigmund Freud | 1996
Saint Wenceslas on his horse | 1999 | Černý’s portrays Saint Wenceslas (Václav) on an upside-down dead horse as a parody of the Czech patron saint who had been a heroic duke of Bohemia and was assassinated in 935.
Saint Wenceslas on his horse | 1999 | Černý’s portrays Saint Wenceslas (Václav) on an upside-down dead horse as a parody of the Czech patron saint who had been a heroic duke of Bohemia and was assassinated in 935.
Saint Wenceslas on his horse | 1999 | Černý’s portrays Saint Wenceslas (Václav) on an upside-down dead horse as a parody of the Czech patron saint who had been a heroic duke of Bohemia and was assassinated in 935.
Saint Wenceslas on his horse | 1999 | Černý’s portrays Saint Wenceslas (Václav) on an upside-down dead horse as a parody of the Czech patron saint who had been a heroic duke of Bohemia and was assassinated in 935.
Babies | 2001 | Three bronze babies were placed on Prague’s Kampa Island.The outrageous babies portray a bloated, surreal childhood.
Babies | 2001 | Three bronze babies were placed on Prague’s Kampa Island.The outrageous babies portray a bloated, surreal childhood.
Babies | 2001 | Three bronze babies were placed on Prague’s Kampa Island.The outrageous babies portray a bloated, surreal childhood.
Babies | 2001 | Three bronze babies were placed on Prague’s Kampa Island.The outrageous babies portray a bloated, surreal childhood.
Babies | 2001 | Three bronze babies were placed on Prague’s Kampa Island.The outrageous babies portray a bloated, surreal childhood.
Embryo | 1996 | Installed on the side of Divadlo na Zabradli this represents a fetus going through a drain-pipe.
Embryo | 1996 | Installed on the side of Divadlo na Zabradli this represents a fetus going through a drain-pipe.
Piss | 2004 |The two bronze urinating figures, each 210 centimeters high, pee into an enclosure the shape of the Czech Republic while turning their upper torsos and raising their penises. The stream of water writes quotes from legendary Prague residents.
Piss | 2004 |The two bronze urinating figures, each 210 centimeters high, pee into an enclosure the shape of the Czech Republic while turning their upper torsos and raising their penises. The stream of water writes quotes from legendary Prague residents.
Piss | 2004 |The two bronze urinating figures, each 210 centimeters high, pee into an enclosure the shape of the Czech Republic while turning their upper torsos and raising their penises. The stream of water writes quotes from legendary Prague residents.
Piss | 2004 |The two bronze urinating figures, each 210 centimeters high, pee into an enclosure the shape of the Czech Republic while turning their upper torsos and raising their penises. The stream of water writes quotes from legendary Prague residents.
Brown-nosing | FUTURA Gallery | 2003 | A sculpture of the lower parts of two men’s bodies stuns and shocks visitors. Černý installed a ladder so that the curious could climb to an opening in the figure’s rear end and watch a video of Czech current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the head of the National Gallery Milan Knizak spoon-feed each other while listening to ‘We are the Champions.’
Brown-nosing | FUTURA Gallery | 2003 | A sculpture of the lower parts of two men’s bodies stuns and shocks visitors. Černý installed a ladder so that the curious could climb to an opening in the figure’s rear end and watch a video of Czech current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the head of the National Gallery Milan Knizak spoon-feed each other while listening to ‘We are the Champions.’
Brown-nosers | FUTURA Gallery | 2003 | A sculpture of the lower parts of two men’s bodies stuns and shocks visitors. Černý installed a ladder so that the curious could climb to an opening in the figure’s rear end and watch a video of Czech current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the head of the National Gallery Milan Knizak spoon-feed each other while listening to ‘We are the Champions.’
Brown-nosing | FUTURA Gallery | 2003 | A sculpture of the lower parts of two men’s bodies stuns and shocks visitors. Černý installed a ladder so that the curious could climb to an opening in the figure’s rear end and watch a video of Czech current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the head of the National Gallery Milan Knizak spoon-feed each other while listening to ‘We are the Champions.’
Brown-nosing | FUTURA Gallery | 2003 | A sculpture of the lower parts of two men’s bodies stuns and shocks visitors. Černý installed a ladder so that the curious could climb to an opening in the figure’s rear end and watch a video of Czech current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the head of the National Gallery Milan Knizak spoon-feed each other while listening to ‘We are the Champions.’
Babies on TV Tower| 2001 | The ten dreamlike babies inching their way up the unconventional Žižkov Television Tower were placed permanently on that eyesore during 2001. The grotesque infants are climbing a structure that jars the beauty of Prague’s skyline, a symbol of the Communist era, unable to reach adulthood, their growth stifled by this landmark of totalitarian rule.
Babies on TV Tower| 2001 | The ten dreamlike babies inching their way up the unconventional Žižkov Television Tower were placed permanently on that eyesore during 2001. The grotesque infants are climbing a structure that jars the beauty of Prague’s skyline, a symbol of the Communist era, unable to reach adulthood, their growth stifled by this landmark of totalitarian rule.
Babies on TV Tower| 2001 | The ten dreamlike babies inching their way up the unconventional Žižkov Television Tower were placed permanently on that eyesore during 2001. The grotesque infants are climbing a structure that jars the beauty of Prague’s skyline, a symbol of the Communist era, unable to reach adulthood, their growth stifled by this landmark of totalitarian rule.
In Utero | 2015 | A 6 meters high steel sculpture where you can feel the environment like being inside the uterus.
In Utero | 2015 | A 6 meters high steel sculpture where you can feel the environment like being inside the uterus.
In Utero | 2015 | A 6 meters high steel sculpture where you can feel the environment like being inside the uterus.
In Utero | 2015 | A 6 meters high steel sculpture where you can feel the environment like being inside the uterus.