Be it Douglas Coupland’s Gumhead or Yang Soo-in’s interactive sculpture Yobosayo, public art has always sparked a sense of curiousity amongst the masses and enhanced the city’s aesthetic.
Hungarian artist Ervin Loránth Hervé’s outdoor sculpture titled Feltépve (meaning “ripped up” or “popped up”) created for the Art Market Budapest has been the talk of the town and received much appreciation from locals and tourists.
As the title suggests, the gigantic man appears to have popped up from underneath the earth by ripping out a blanket of lush green grass. The angry expression on the man’s face is suggestive of human reaction to isolation. The colossal figure also appears as if he is gasping for breath and needs to escape in to the open.
Rising 20 feet in the air, the lawn appears to stretch over the giant’s back, creating a new hill-like formation. Crafted from polystyrene, the surface is finished to appear antiquated so that it can blend in with the historic architecture of Budapest.
In an interview with Funzine, Hervé said that his goal was to show people that pieces of contemporary art can be integral parts of a city and that they can become one of its building blocks. He adds, “I feel that many more contemporary sculptures should be displayed on the streets of Budapest. I’m positive that not only would the tourists love it, but the locals would appreciate it too. Let’s dare to create!”
After Budapest, the sculpture was displayed in the city of Ulm in Germany on 23rd Ocotber 2014 which also marks as Hungary’s National Day. This specific day was chosen by the German authorities as a token of their respect towards Hungary.
Ervin Loránth Hervé’s Feltépve not only fosters creative expression, but also strengthens and celebrates the Hungarian-German friendship.
Images via My Modern Met