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Čumil

Čumil is a bronze statue in the city centre of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Created by sculptor, academic painter, graphic artist and artist Viktor Hulík, it is also known as Čumil the sewage worker, Man at work, or simply Čumil. The statue is considered one of the most prominent monuments in Bratislava and a major attraction in the city centre. It was installed on 26 July 1997 during the Korzo party, which celebrated the renewed pedestrian zone. In 2018, city police discovered that the statue had been tampered with, and it was temporarily dismantled for repairs and maintenance.

Čumil, a bronze man emerging from a street opening with his hands resting on the rim
Čumil, the well-known Bratislava sculpture of a man emerging from the pavement.
September 2016 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Čumil, a bronze man wearing a helmet, leans out of a manhole in a paved street.
Čumil, the bronze street sculpture in Bratislava, emerging from a manhole.
© · CC BY 3.0
Čumil bronze statue of a man emerging from a manhole in a stone-paved street
Čumil, the well-known bronze statue in Bratislava, shown emerging from a manhole cover.
February 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Čumil bronze sculpture of a man emerging from a manhole on a wet street
Čumil, the Bratislava street sculpture, shown emerging from a manhole on a wet paved street.
November 2008 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Čumil bronze statue of a man emerging from a manhole beneath a Man at Work sign.
Čumil, the bronze street sculpture of a man peering out from a manhole on a city corner.
September 2012 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleČumil
Typebronze statue / monument
Alternative namesČumil the sewage worker; Man at Work

Historical context

Creation contextCreated as part of the reconstruction and revitalization of Bratislava’s city center

Creator

ArtistViktor Hulík
Artist occupationsSculptor; academic painter; graphic artist
Artist’s interpretationAccording to the artist, Čumil symbolizes nothing, is not any real person, does not refer to any events, and was intended only to enliven the Old Town

Discovery and provenance

Attendance at installation event30,000 people
Notable attendeeMilan Kováč, President of Slovakia
Installation purposeTo celebrate the renewal of the pedestrian zone
Installation date26 July 1997
Installation eventKorzo party

Physical characteristics

Subject depictedA sewer worker leaning out of an open manhole and watching passersby from street level

Materials

MaterialBronze

Location and ownership

LocationPedestrian zone of the Old Town, at the intersection of Laurinská Street, Panská Street, and Rybárska Brána, Bratislava, Slovakia
Location contextBratislava is the capital of Slovakia

History and restoration

Protection measureIt was temporarily dismantled to prevent damage
Additional vandalism-related informationVandals had also tried to steal the statue
MaintenanceRegular maintenance of its anchoring was carried out
SignageSince 1999, the sculpture has been marked with a specially made road-sign-like sign featuring an image of Čumil and the text 'MAN AT WORK'
Condition foundThe statue had been tampered with by vandals
Vandalism discoveredDuring a regular inspection in 2018 by Bratislava city police
Purpose of signageTo draw the attention of tourists and vehicles permitted to drive through the pedestrian zone
Reason for signageTwo traffic accidents damaged the sculpture

Iconography and meaning

Associated stories and interpretationsStories arose around the monument, including biographies of a supposed prototype and claims that stroking Čumil on the head brings happiness

Significance

SignificanceConsidered one of the most prominent and most frequently photographed monuments in Bratislava and one of the main attractions in the city center

Comparison with related works

Related similar statuesSimilar statues have been installed in Russia
Related monumentsIn 2008, very similar monuments were created in Bobrujsk and Homel, Belarus; a similar plumber monument also exists in Subotica, Serbia
Assessment of relationshipThe Belarusian monuments are described as unauthorized copies of the Slovak monument due to their similar details
Distinctive feature of related monument in SuboticaIt is not as smiling as Čumil

Miscellaneous

Misidentification abroadIn various media abroad, Čumil is mistakenly identified as a soldier
Depicted in file alt textMiroslav Lajčák, former Foreign Minister of Slovakia, poses with Jeffrey Epstein at the Čumil statue in Bratislava, probably in early 2019
Photograph referencesFile:Man At Work And Some Tourists - panoramio.jpg; File:Čumil - panoramio.jpg; File:Man at WOrk (27446440636).jpg; File:Man at work.jpg; File:Cumil Bratislava.jpg; File:Bratislava man at work.jpg