Description
A highly detailed, pocket-sized bronze sculpture that brilliantly captures the character's essence: the signature potato nose and windblown, bushy goblin hair. Pumuckl sits on the edge of a rough limestone boulder, leaning back casually. He steadies himself with his left hand while proudly raising his beer with his right. Over the years, the bronze has developed a patina that blends almost seamlessly with the wet rocks of the fountain.
Story
Pumuckl’s connection to Munich is absolute, as the cult classic live-action/animated series was filmed right on the Bavarian streets. In September 2022, taking advantage of a city caught up in Oktoberfest fever, Kolodko installed the mini-statue in total secrecy at Lenbachplatz. True to goblin nature, the figure remained completely incognito for years. Local authorities and passersby didn't even notice the stowaway until recently, perfectly matching the show's lore: Pumuckl only reveals himself to those he chooses.
Fun facts
- • The Grand Premiere: This tiny artwork is Mihály Kolodko's very first mini-sculpture placed in Western Europe, outside the borders of Hungary and Ukraine.
- • A Mug in Hand: The sculptor made sure the character integrated into the local culture: the little goblin holds a miniature, authentic Bavarian beer mug (Maßkrug) in his right hand.
- • The Time-Capsule Effect: Even though the statue has been sitting there since 2022, German media and social networks only discovered it en masse recently. It hid in the heart of the city for years without almost anyone knowing.
- • The famous Transcarpathian artist, Mihály Kolodko, has also hidden one of his guerrilla sculptures – which have become his trademark – in Munich. The tiny bronze Pumukli, tucked away by the Wittelsbacher Fountain (Wittelsbacher Brunnen), is holding a beer mug in his hand. As it is situated outside the fountain’s basin, it can be viewed all year round, even when the basin is covered in winter.
