There are plenty of ridiculous statues in different places of the world. When this is very much normal to tha native people, others become astonished to know of it! The statue of St. Wenceslas riding a dead horse is an epic example of that. Hanging from the ceiling of the Art Nouveau Lucerna Palace in Prague, an ancient king rides triumphantly astride… an upside-down, apparently dead horse.
Who created it? When it was created?
Created by Prague-born artist David Cerny, whose claim to fame was the painting a Soviet tank pink as a memorial to the Velvet Revolution, he’s also known for his unsettling large scale installation piece of babies crawling their way up the Prague television tower, among other works of modern surrealism.
What is meant by this statue?
The sculpture is a mocking reference to the more famous equestrian statue of King, and later, Saint Wenceslas which sits in Wenceslas Square, and possibly a mocking nod to Czech president Vaclav Kraus, although the artist will not say what his intentions were.
Final Few words on the topic
What most people don’t notice is that the whole arcade has been designed in the Art Nouveau style right down to the last detail, from ceiling to floor, light fittings, cornices, stairs & balustrades, and some nearly hidden beautiful stained glass windows, décor & shop fronts. Its an absolute gem of design, and a gem of AN, and its free