Monument Eros and Tanatos

Sculptures in the City series – a collaboration between HIT and the Ministry of Culture

The sculpture Eros and Thanatos by Matjaž Počivavšek, installed in 2002 on the municipal lawn in agreement with the artist and architect Vojteh Ravnikar, provoked reactions from the local public similar to those triggered by Bratuša’s work.

The conceptual basis of the sculpture—defined by two horizontal massive forged iron blocks—lies in the artist’s interest in the history of the site. The present-day city lawn was once a cemetery, a space of death and departure, and the sculpture was intended to mark this place of memory.

Alongside Thanatos, however, the work also contains an element of Eros, as Počivavšek noted in an interview for Primorske novice—it simply needs to be discovered. Some opposition to the sculpture was expressed symbolically, with candles placed in front of it on the eve of its unveiling. The artist commented on this reaction: “Freud would call this a phobia of touch … People are simply afraid of certain objects, especially those that carry an artistic, religious or spiritual dimension …”

The sculpture reflects Počivavšek’s characteristic approach to sculpture, defined by clear forms and primary geometric shapes. With minimal interventions on the surface, he leaves only subtle, gently curved traces, as if expressing respect for the nature of the material, which serves as a foundation for exploring the symbolic and spiritual dimensions of the artwork.

Avtor: Pavla Jarc

Vir:

Pavla Jarc: Javni spomeniki in skulpture v mestu, Razpotja Nove Gorice, št. 29, zima 2017 (https://razpotja.si/razpotja_article/javni-spomeniki-in-skulpture-v-mestu/)

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