Internationally renowned sculptor Gábor Miklós Szőke (HU) is known for his expressive animal sculptures, which are installed in many cities around the world. The horse sculpture, which the artist named “Colossus,” is one of his most significant permanent public artworks and is currently the largest horse sculpture in the world.
The several-month-long construction of the statue was preceded by a demanding design phase. In designing the horse, it was necessary to take into account not only numerous environmental factors but also its specific structural dynamics. Eighty percent of the total weight of the galloping horse statue rests on a single leg. The dynamism and power of this monument are enhanced by thousands of individually welded, fragmentary stainless steel plates that form the 8.3-meter-tall, 14.6-meter-long, 20-metric-ton galloping horse, tilted at an angle of 10 degrees. The artwork is located next to the main entrance of Europe’s most modern equestrian center, the x-bionic sphere in Šamorín.
“The anatomy of the horse—this subject and its depiction in art history—has fascinated me since childhood. I have created numerous sculptures of horses—including public sculptures—and studies, so I was delighted when Hipo Aréna approached me. To complement the modern style and the clean, nature-inspired environment, I chose a material that will last for several generations and reflects the latest architectural trends in the complex, so I decided on stainless steel. While touring this largest sports complex in Europe, spanning more than 100 hectares, it became clear to me that my horse sculpture would also be of significant dimensions. The main focus was on capturing the dynamism and power of a galloping horse, which I achieved by observing its gait and through the spatial arrangement of the stainless steel elements. Currently, the horse sculpture in Slovakia is my largest work in a public space to date,” said Gábor Miklós Szőke.
The statue was erected on May 8, 2015, and was donated to the Hippo Arena by Štefan Czucz, a native of Šamorín.
The statue is open to the public year-round.
Galéria
