Artwork of the Month – Zeus, by Imre Varga
The Sándor Kőrösi Csoma Dormitory at ELTE is home to one of Imre Varga’s most outstanding works of art. The statue of Zeus was erected in the college courtyard in 1972 and has remained there ever since. Interestingly, the statue does not face the college itself, but rather Budaörsi Road.
The work currently stands next to Building B of the college; however, this building was constructed after the statue was erected. In 1972, the college had only Building A, and the soil conditions in its immediate vicinity were not suitable for placing the statue there. For years, the sculpture was hidden by the surrounding vegetation, but it is now accessible to everyone. To make it easier for residents to approach the work, a path leading to it was also constructed. Parts of this path have survived to this day, so anyone who wishes to walk around the sculpture can still do so using it.
According to the original plans, the dormitory grounds were not intended to feature a work of this scale; instead, a design for a relief sculpture made of slab stone had been proposed to adorn the retaining wall of the front garden. The idea for the seven-meter-tall portrait of Zeus originated from Imre Varga’s vision, as the artist believed it better represented the spirit of the dormitory. The university originally approached the Cultural Investment Company in 1967 to commission a work for the dormitory grounds; by the time the project was assigned to Imre Varga, the artist had already begun designing a larger sculpture. As a result, the work was completed: a seven-meter-tall portrait of Zeus carved from limestone, which can also be interpreted as a “head standing on legs.” Its unique technique and use of materials make it one-of-a-kind; Imre Varga did not carve the limestone block from the outside, but instead collected stones found in nature, which he used to assemble the portrait with the help of concrete.
Sculptor Imre Varga (1923–2019) was one of Hungary’s most significant artists; his prominent role is well illustrated by the fact that his works have been exhibited in numerous countries, and his life’s work has received significant national and international recognition. His work was honored with the Kossuth and Herder Prizes, among others, and he was awarded the
Commander’s Cross of the Order of Arts and Letters in France and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in Italy.
Photo and written by Szemenyei Dalma, student of ELTE