Ustroń: Another giant religious statue in Poland

Ustroń [ˈustrɔɲ] ( listen) (German: Ustron) is a health resort town in Cieszyn Silesia, southern Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), having previously been in Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship (1975-1998). It lies in the Silesian Beskids mountain range.

Although the installation of sculpture only lasted a few hours, developers have been working on it since one and a half years.

The author of the sculpture is a Cracovian artist, Robert Pigoń. The founder is a local resident of Ustroń, who wants to remain anonymous. The entire 24-meter sculpture is made up of a stone pedestal and a 10-meter figure made of stainless steel.

The sculpture depicts Jesus Christ, King of Poland, who holds a scepter with three crowns in one hand, an an apple in the second one. His crown is a mixture of thorns and emblems from 19th century and Second Republic (inter-bellum) Poland.

- Work on the entire sculpture lasted over one and a half years, while the work on the sculpture proper lasted eight months. It was a really big challenge for us - said Robert Pigoń, the author of the sculpture.

The sculpture stands sideways to the church. - It's our conscious decision, since we want Jesus to embrace the entire country, and this is why He is facing north, toward the whole country - explains the founder of the sculpture.

But seriously, has anyone ever wondered about the multi-faith traditions of Ustroń? I did not want to joke, but the situation is a little grotesque - unfortunately, the size of the sculpture goes far beyond the boundaries of the parish of Zawodzie . I do not know what to think, I must admit that I am an evangelist and it hurts me a little ...

Let us have a sculpture JP 2, Benedict 16, Kaczynski and the esteemed pastor, who accepted this "attraction" in a multi-faith town, which undoubtedly is Ustroń, in supposedly secular state of Poland.

Look at it from the other side. Firstly, you cannot ever stop a rich man :), secondly - compare the whims Mrs. M. producing coffee or Mr. B known for the water bottling business. Those are the real idiocies.. It may actually be that K - the founder of this statue - wants to make a sacrifice to God. But is this the best way to go? I do not know. Especially since this is a public space. We do not know what are his real intentions. For me, though I am a Catholic, this statue is a triumph of form over substance, and God expects from us other forms of worship.

A 24-meter sculpture of Jesus Christ

it doesn't look 24m to me. however, it looks ok though.

Another giant religious statue in Poland

Poland has an obsession with religion.

Many countries are religiously deficient, esp. in decadent Western Europe.

The bronze statue and the bronze pedestal,
Of bronze also the Allegories around:
Books, Torches, Globes and the Owls -
All of those the artist spelled in bronze,
(...)
And we, Poles, we like monuments.

The sad thing is that anyone that opposes such things are immediately blasted and labelled as some sort of Communist Jew - which is nonsense.

I really hope that putting up giant Jesus statues doesn't become a fashion :(

So? Its our obsession, we dont go bending people over to our ways so f*ck off little prick.

I wouldnt say that, Świebodzin was highly criticised, and it now becomes sort of a fashion to criticise religion and beliefs

I hope that too. I wonder why religious people cant praise god by building hospital?but on the other hand it is their money, and not my business.

The problem is that such criticism fuels those that want to put up such statues - and who in Poland would dare to refuse planning permission for such a thing?

No, I wouldn't say Poland - but rather some people seem obsessed with the idea of forcing it down everyone's throat.

The photos of the sculpture can be viewed here:

Shame He looks more like Richard The LionHeart in a bathrobe with that silly crown.

I much prefer the statues with open arms, welcoming and ever ready to embrace,