Joy

Dušan Kuzma / 1988

The sculpture comprises two tall columns that stand parallel. The western face of the southern pillar alludes to proximity of the gym, which is part of the Lúky Cultural Centre. Its widened upper surface features a relief of two women jumping for a ball, while the column’s edge is decorated with a wave motif. The western face of the northern pillar has a fluted (grooved) surface. 

The eastern faces of the columns are smooth and unembellished, except the upper section of the northern column which features a relief motif of a stylised bird. The sculpture is located in the Lúky Cultural Centre complex near an infamous building known as Malý Braník. The complex was long neglected, but as part of the Petržalka Cultural Facilities project in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the Slovak University of Technology, the city district is currently working on its gradual revitalisation. 

 

The sculpture was created by the renowned Slovak architect Dušan Kuzma, founder of the Department of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, and winner of the Emil Belluš Award for lifetime achievement in architecture and of the Dušan Jukrovič Award. His most notable works include the SNP Museum in Banská Bystrica (with Jozef Jankovič), the SNP Memorial in Bratislava (with Ján Kulich), the Welding Research Institute building in Bratislava, and the new Slovak Matica building in Martin (with Anton Cimmerman). 

 

 

ZZ, ZD 

Research status as of 30. 12. 2024.


Authorship


Years

  • 1988 – implementation
  • 2024 – restoration

Type

Material

concrete, paint

Technique

casting, painting

Dimensions

600 × 230 × 45 cm and 570 × 150 × 50 cm

Inscription

none

Condition

  • preserved, maintained
  • restored
The work was restored in 2024 by Denis Dvorský.

Registration

  • Petržalka City District Heritage Site.

Owner

  • Bratislava the Capital City of Slovakia

Administrator

  • Petržalka City District

Address

Šášovská 6

Location details

In a verdant area within the inner block between Šášovská, Vígľašská and Beňadická streets, in front of the gym entrance at the Lúky Cultural Centre.

Plot number

2301

GPS

48.0979460, 17.1068480

Other works in the area

Message of Peace

Pavol Tóth 1982 – 1988

Sundial

Štefan Prokop 1988

Drinking Doves

Ambróz Balážik 1981 – 1982

Tribute to the Danube

Dušan Kuzma, Pavol Kuzma 1990