Mihály Kolodko: “The Paul Street Boys”
Hungarian sculptor Mihály Kolodko is an artist renowned for the small sculptures created for public spaces. His sculptures are typically found on sidewalks, benches, or bridges in various cities across Hungary, allowing anyone exploring the city to enjoy coming across these miniature works of art.
As part of the 2024 Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year, in coperation with the Beyoğlu Municipality and the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Center, a small sculpture depicting a beloved character from “The Paul Street Boy”—a major work of Hungarian literature now in its 63rd edition in Turkey and enjoyed by both children and adults—was unveiled. Nemecsek, Boka, and the other children of Pál Street set out from the impoverished Józsefváros district of Budapest in 1907. Today, they are known throughout the world. To date, millions of people of all ages have read their touching story; just like the children of Budapest, they, too, have marveled at Boka’s courage and couldn’t hold back their tears in the face of Nemecsek’s timid yet determined heroism. In the statue, Barabás is seated on the seal of the “Putty Club,” which also appears in the book. The stamp can be used by any hiker and can be used to imprint the text onto a piece of paper.
