Monument N. G.

Cikel skulptura v mestu - sodelovanje HIT-a in kulturnega ministrstva

Monument N. G. (1999), created by one of Slovenia’s most prominent sculptors, Mirko Bratuša, is the second in a series of works from the Sculptures in the City project. The initiative was a collaboration between the company HIT (as the main sponsor), the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Municipality of Nova Gorica, aiming to enrich the urban space with five significant sculptural works.

The sculpture is conceived as a powerful organic form from which nine heads emerge, arranged across the bronze body and facing different directions. This multi-headed figurative composition, carrying a subtle sense of humour, establishes a direct dialogue with passers-by while expressing the artist’s distinctive imagination.

Shortly after its installation, however, the sculpture sparked strong reactions. Part of the public rejected it as unsettling, offensive or mocking; some even claimed to recognise themselves in the depicted faces. These responses were largely based on personal impressions rather than professional evaluation, leading to calls for the removal of the monument—which fortunately were never realised.

Such reactions were not unexpected, as Bratuša’s public sculptures have often provoked strong responses, ranging from outright rejection to enthusiastic approval. Art historian Jure Mikuž described the work as a counter-monument—not in direct relation to specific monuments, but as a critique of conventional and limited notions of what a monument should be.

Avtor: Pavla Jarc

Kraj: Nova Gorica

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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