Description
The finely detailed bronze model depicts a classic 1930s Alfa Romeo. The car's lines evoke the streamlined elegance of luxury racing cars from that era. The sculpture is mounted on a semi-circular grey stone base, where the tilt of the wheels and the lean of the chassis perfectly capture the sense of reckless speed and the fast-paced energy of Rejtő's adventures.
Story
The artist placed the sculpture in Erzsébetváros (the 7th district) under total secrecy in August 2019. The choice of location is a deeply respectful gesture: the street branching off the square now bears Jenő Rejtő’s name, and the building where the tragically fated, brilliant author was born stands just a stone's throw away. With this piece, Kolodko has permanently woven the unforgettable tale of Iván Gorcsev into the Budapest streetscape—the novel's protagonist who famously won the 14-carat gold car in a game of card roulette (macao) at the tender age of twenty-one, right after winning the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Fun facts
- • Size Exception: This artwork is significantly larger than the artist’s usual palm-sized ministatues, making it much easier to spot in the square.
- • Dynamic Illusion: Due to the curved design of the stone base, the car looks as if it is taking a high-speed turn on two wheels right in front of the theatre entrance.
- • The Mystery of Gold: Although the car’s bodywork in the novel is made of solid gold, Kolodko’s statue stays true to the artist’s trademark style and is crafted from patinated bronze.
