King’s Statue in Komárno, Slovakia Toppled by Vandals
The city of Komárno (Komárom, Slovakia) was shocked by an act of vandalism on the evening of September 3. Unknown perpetrators knocked down the statue of Hungarian King Béla III, a creation by renowned sculptor György Bartusz.
The incident was captured on surveillance video, showing two young men climbing the statue’s pedestal and causing it to fall before fleeing the scene. The statue, a significant work by Bartusz, has been severely damaged, with art historian Éva Dénes stating that restoration to its original state may be impossible without recasting the damaged parts.
City authorities are now seeking public assistance to identify and locate the vandals. The city police are urging anyone with information or those seen in the video to come forward. Legal action may be taken against the perpetrators for the significant damage inflicted on this valuable cultural asset.
György Bartusz, born in 1933, is a prominent figure in Central European avant-garde art with a background in the concretist movement. He was involved in protests against repression after the 1968 uprisings in Czechoslovakia.
This act of vandalism serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the consequences of destructive actions. Let us hope that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that measures are put in place to prevent such acts in the future.
