Mountains of steel and concrete (read: human-made apartment blocks) almost train us to be on our own. The closer we live to one another, the bigger strangers we become.

When I lived in a skyscraper in Zagreb, my fellow residents wouldn’t greet back in an elevator. Even in my current abode, a four-floor building, tenants often prefer to live unbothered by courtesy. I know my first neighbor’s name is Milka because I optimistically introduced myself when moving in. Since then, I never heard a ‘hello’ back.

The magic of the mountain is in making us connect

But in the mountains, where population density drops, every passer-by becomes the friendliest person one could hope to meet.

This past Saturday, I went hiking Zagreb’s Medvednica mountain, loosely translated as the mountain of bears. I was pleasantly taken aback. Despite the arduous climbing on a warm day, hikers managed to summon smiles between puffs and pants. Such is the magic of the mountain – we relate to each other.

Much like other transformative experiences, the hike up the Croatian capital’s mountain begins with a tunnel. You step into the darkness of the tube, but soon a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel assures you that more life awaits beyond. On one side, the towering human-made mountains, and on the other, the grand architecture of nature. Who wouldn’t want to pass through?

The dance of the fern

Many Saturdays ago (exactly 329, I counted), I was hiking in the Southern Hemisphere, a world away from Zagreb. Separated by an entire alphabet of mountains and seas, there was the city of Bandung, the capital of West Java, Indonesia. Overlooking the town, the highest peak was called Bukit Moko.

On that particular Saturday, I wasn’t hiking alone through the enchanting pine forest. There was me, equipped with my Canon, and Fathin Naufal, armed with his Polaroid camera. I had met him just a day before, through Couchsurfing, another platform that quickly connects mountains of strangers.

He had this dense hair and a thin mustache, wore glasses with a chain, and his wide smile, framed by braces, exuded boyish charm. Although he had circled the Sun just 23 times, he seemed mature, with well-defined visions and beliefs. On the other hand, Fathin was still playful like a child. It didn’t need much to pull me into playing fools for his Polaroid camera, as he liked to document life with instant photographs that adorned his tiny room.

At the same time, there was me, serious and ambitious, with a travel blogging agenda, lugging around a heavy camera bag to the top of Bandung’s highest hill I would never even report about. Until now.

I noticed a delicate fern swaying in the wind, between sunlight and shade, just calling for a photograph. It was challenging to capture that tiny fragile thing with its dancy groove, evading my intention to freeze the moment of beauty for… Well, for forever.

Fathin couldn’t contain his laughter as he watched my futile attempts to trap nature in my memory card. Kneeling on the forest floor, in front of that vivid, attention-eluding fern, I had to laugh as well.

A silent storm within me

While I was, 329 Saturdays later, following the winding trail toward Puntijarka, one of Zagreb’s mountain huts, my thoughts swirled around the fragility of life.

Unlike the dancing fern in the Bandung breeze, much sturdier Medvednica trees couldn’t withstand the ferocity of the July storm. It didn’t matter how rooted they were, or how strong they were; many just snapped in an instant. It was a powerful lesson about the unpredictable nature of existence; we cannot know when we will break.

Now, I may not have been the most prepared for this hike. While I was less broken than those toppled trees, there was still a storm of anger and confusion raging in my head, while I tried to put my best face forward when greeting fellow hikers, those nameless ambassadors of people who care. I was hiking up with that dancing Bandung fern etched in my mind, my tired eyes hidden behind sunglasses.

My smartwatch monitor usually scolds me for not getting enough sleep, urging me to improve my bedtime habits. Yet, this Saturday, after a restless night, the smartwatch had no objections. In fact, it commended my mere 4 hours and 58 minutes of sleep, calling it “not bad”.

“Napping boosts your energy and performance”, it said. That’s right, with such numerous awakenings that night, the smartwatch concluded my fractured dreams were a series of strategic power naps.

“Hello? You alive?”

Fathin wasn’t posting much on social media recently. Ever since he had updated his profile picture in November 2022, featuring him confidently dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, complete with high heels and a stylish purse that resembled a vintage camera, he seemed to have retreated from the online spotlight.

Nonetheless, we chatted in January. He shared his enthusiasm for “cool and huge” interior design projects he was about to do – exciting ventures ranging from new bars to an entire treehouse village. By March, he was reporting back as being super busy with work, with massive projects going on. “Super exciting, yet super exhausting”, he told me.

Fathin also spoke about the “fucked-up weather” in Bali, where he had been building his career in recent years. “Mostly super hot and humid, then crazy rain out of nowhere”, he said. “Hahahaha, all about the balance, hey.”

I was reaching out to him in July and August, when crazy rains were long forgotten, but received no response. It was not typical for him to ghost me. I figured he must’ve changed his phone number again, something he had done a couple of times before.

Facebook’s Messenger still displayed him as “connected”, yet my messages refused to go through.

My last WhatsApp message said “Hello? You alive?”

The wall of silence

On Friday, I attempted once again to fathom Fathin’s reasons for ignoring me. And then, on his Facebook wall, my gaze fell upon someone’s post – a photograph capturing his recognizable silhouette, flashing the victorious V sign. The message said: “Fly high and dance forever.”

The earlier post was even clearer for a sinking heart: “I will miss you so much, my darling. Rest in peace, Fathin. You’ve always space in my heart and will always complete my soul. Lots of love always.”

Fathin and I didn’t really have common friends. Our friendship was intensely one-on-one. Springboarded from just two in-person encounters, one in Java and the other in Bali, we felt strangely connected. I was looking forward to staying with him upon my return to the Island of Gods.

But Fathin has not been around since April 15, and it took me five months to find out. As I heard, he had just suddenly fallen ill, gasping for breath. His heart had stopped beating before he could reach hospital.

Saying goodbyes never comes easy, but this one was particularly brutal. He was just 29, always generous and listening, a wellspring of talent and ambition, brimming with realized and future potential. He had that youthful energy of a fern dancing in the wind, always smiling with his braces, showing off his radical haircuts, piercings, tattoos, and a personal style that boldly challenged the conventions of traditional Indonesian society.

I broke down in tears this Friday, learning that my dear friend was gone. It was a loss that defied comprehension.

It was on Facebook I learned about another tragic loss - the departure of Angela Laurier, the artist who understood the stress of performing "someone else".

From strangers to family

Back in Bandung, 329 Fridays earlier, I stepped off a train from Jakarta. He was there, waiting as promised. I was doubtful if a stranger, who had offered me a place to stay for free, would actually show up. I was new to the Couchsurfing platform. Fathin was my second host, I was his second couch surfer.

He loaded me and my bag on his scooter, and off we went to meet his family. It was a traditional Muslim household, and I was warmly welcomed by a chorus of women and children. Nobody spoke English except for Fathin. They extended offerings of food purchased outside, all the while apologizing for not being better hosts.

None of it made sense to me. Only later, I learned that, on the very day I arrived, the grandmother’s sister had passed away. Devastated by sorrow, these kind-hearted people wore the warmest of smiles, like some mountain hikers, prioritizing my comfort while their internal world was falling apart.

I completely understand where Fathin got his warm and positive spirit from. He was so obviously a black sheep of the family, and yet, instead of being a complete rebel, he had absorbed kindness and empathy.

Encounters with local families are what makes global traveling truly valuable. I met another modest, yet incredibly empowering family at Bete Giyorgis, one of the most impressive world churches.

That same evening, Fathin took me to a local street market and introduced me to pandan rice balls and martabak, thick, buttery pancakes, with peanuts and chocolate. I was bought.

Our original plan had been to ascend the Tangkuban Perahu volcano the following morning. But discouraged by the steep price for foreigners, we decided to visit a more affordable local attraction instead – Bukit Moko. After all, unlike people, volcanoes would always be there.

The road to Bandung’s hills was quite steep. I had to dismount from the motorbike at certain sections, so Fathin could drive through. Taking those asses uphill required effort.

The woodpecker’s tap-tap

Some sport bikes whizzed downhill, as I ascended the slopes of Zagreb’s mountain, with a lost friend in my mind. No friendly ‘hellos’ this time. Life’s too quick for that.

I’d stop only briefly, to take a sip of water, so my back could continue sweating, leaving a giant wet mark on my shirt.

“Super exciting, yet super exhausting”, rang in my ears. “Super hot and humid”, it all mixed up.

Mountains are restorative in more than one way. Even amid all those broken, seemingly strong trees, the rhythmic sound of a persistent woodpecker echoed through the forest. There was life beyond what you could see.

You pass the tunnel and disconnect from the civilization’s frantic rush.

Reflection in the stars

Bukit Moko forest was different. It was a hill where civilization and nature grew into each other. Streetlights emerged directly from the trees, and even charging stations were installed. After all, those selfies drain mobile phone batteries.

Among the most sought-after selfie spots were the colossal reflective stars of Puncak Bintang. Fathin and I, naturally, posed for some reflection.

In my travel journal, I would note that we paused for some juice refreshments before heading to the Babakan Siliwangi forest walk. The youngsters of Bandung were shooting urban fashion editorials there.

After savoring a cup of tea at a cozy coffee shop where Fathin’s friend worked, he took me for lunch to a place called The Volcano. Since I had missed out on visiting Tangkuban Perahu, Fathin thought we could at least eat some chicken at this eatery that promoted itself with “The Ultimate Experience” banner.

Fathin ordered an entire chicken, but it arrived at our table half-raw. We sent it back, and after an additional 15 minutes of baking, it returned equally undercooked. We requested a take-out, and later that evening my host would over-bake the hell out of that roast chicken.

Back to the chicken

Fathin’s Couchsurfing profile today says he was a vegetarian. I assume this dietary choice evolved after 2017. We shape our identities gradually.

I haven’t eaten much chicken in the last six years either. Yet, this Saturday, at Puntijarka mountain hut, in the absence of martabak, I ordered chicken for lunch. I wasn’t at the top of the volcano again. But this one was baked well.

Fathin Naufal – from ‘om’ to freedom

Those 329 Saturdays ago, I caught just a brief glimpse into the extraordinary life this unique artsy soul led in his hometown.

Fathin Naufal was the one who introduced me to NuArt Sculpture Park, where his friend smuggled us in, and I managed to snap a pic of the biggest Vishnu statue in the world while it was still a work in progress.

My friend was well-connected, especially within art circles. His talents knew no bounds: he was a performer, a storyteller, a dancer, a singer, a guitar and a piano player.

When I first met him, he proudly displayed his henna tattoo, an ohm symbol on his wrist. “I can’t have real tattoos”, he texted me earlier. “I’m a Muslim, lol. My parents would be angry.”

That changed when he moved away. Bali liberated him, and Fathin expressed himself through a handpoke tattoo. His fashion style also blossomed. He never seemed afraid of being judged as different, or eccentric.

When it comes to imagining new interiors, he was designing everything from toy stores and apartments to teenage gyms and contemporary dance centers.

This clearly perspective young man could hold deep conversations but also liked to laugh. I loved making him laugh.

During a quick tour of Bandung, he even took me on a journey back in time, to his student years. Villa Isola, an art-deco building on the campus of the University of Education, has an aura of mystery, with tales of apparition sightings.

Fathin recalled a peculiar experience there himself. He told me that he was with his friends when they heard the distinct sound of horse bells. That night, all three of them were haunted by the same chilling nightmare – a horse-drawn carriage running over them.

Bearing with the pain

When that May Sunday in 2017 arrived, and it was time for me to depart, Fathin accompanied me to the bus station. He was standing there long, refusing to leave before the bus’s tires began to roll.

“It’s a bit teary but I can handle it lol”, he texted me, just meters away, separated by the bus’s glass windows.

“Don’t forget about us”, he added. “My mom has bought chicken and everything to cook something for you. She feels guilty because she hasn’t even cooked anything for you.”

In that moment of familial grief, that generous woman had room for the feelings of guilt, toward a perfect stranger.

Perhaps I’m not naming things right. True, I had only met Fathin twice. Those 48 hours in Bandung in 2017, and then one evening in Bali in 2019. But our long-distance connection that kept on going was quite strong. I couldn’t just call him an acquaintance. There were too many tears in my eyes when I learned what happened. That vibrant 29-year-old, overflowing with love, was gone? It made no sense.

Our moment in time was like a casual passing-by on some mountain trail. But our “Hello” was far from an empty ritual

Before I left his hometown, Fathin gifted me a necklace adorned with a ceramic polar bear, bearing the word “chill” on its side. It was a profound reminder message, and I wonder if I should have worn it more often, as I undoubtedly will now.

Without anything of equal significance to offer in return, I presented him with a simple bracelet I had received in Kuala Lumpur on Vesak Day. He accepted it with gratitude and called it a lucky bracelet. Now I know bracelets aren’t miraculous.

It’s remarkable how brief encounters with strangers can connect us so deeply. Our moment in time may not have appeared different from a casual passing-by on some mountain trail. But our mutual greeting, though insignificant in the grand scheme of history, was far from an empty ritual.

It was an honor to be able to say “Hello” to you, my dear friend. Your presence has left an indelible imprint on my Polaroid heart.

Have you ever met anyone as briefly as I met Fathin Naufal? Did that person leave a mark on you? Reach out to them today!
And pin this in memoriam piece for later!

The post Fathin Naufal & 329 Saturdays: Fading Out Like a Reverse Polaroid appeared first on Pipeaway.

I’ve witnessed the phenomenon in a variety of versions, from churchgoers rubbing Christ‘s statue during Maleldo, the Cutud crucifixion festival in the Philippines, to hordes of tourists placing their hands in the Mouth of Truth in Rome.

Statues are typically rubbed for good luck, better love life, health blessings, or as a ritual of making any kind of wish

Then there are those statues you just “have to” rub, because of peer pressure. What kind of tourist would you be if you would just pass by Il Porcellino, the famous Florence boar, or the bronze plaque of the martyr Saint John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge in Prague? If you don’t join the touching frenzy, you might never return to these towns, and you certainly don’t want that kind of curse on your soul!

Most of the deeper meanings behind statue rubbing, unlike the touch, are intangible. Rubbing is not a medicine delivered behind the counter, it doesn’t come with any guarantee, and the results are highly speculative.

One could (or would need to) believe it would bring good luck, love, better health, or just simply grant a wish. Because it happens in the sphere of superstition (or belief, if the realistic approach to wording offends you), the interpretation of the action can vary too.

After all, kissing icons at the Greek orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos, and simulating sex acts with South Korean statues in Jeju Loveland, are two radically different contexts. Those contexts explain what is and what is not appropriate. The same action may be perceived as desecrating in some circumstances, and as plain fun in others.

In this article, we dive deeper into the controversial practice of statue rubbing, as well as reveal the most rubbed statues in the world!

Rubbing the breasts of a feminist icon

On February 28th, 2023, travel author Boris Veličan was hoping to launch a new statue-rubbing tradition in Zagreb.

For the Croatian National Television series, he took on a role of a tour guide, showing unsuspecting visitors Croatia as never seen before.

He presented them with an invented “tradition” which supposedly makes one’s dreams come true: rubbing the breasts of the Marija Jurić Zagorka statue.

The act caused quite a stir among feminists, tourist guides, and the general public. Zagorka was the first Croatian female journalist and an important women’s rights advocate.

Veličan’s statue rubbing was rubbing salt in an existing wound. It was received as distasteful, disrespectful, degrading, sexist, misogynistic, primitive, and not at all amusing, which seemed to have been the author’s intention.

“On Youtube reels, I saw that there was a custom in Verona to rub Juliet’s breast and that it fills with happiness those who come there and do it”, sank even deeper Boris later. “Today, so many tourists flock there that they are given five seconds each to take a photo and move on. Probably under this influence, I dreamed that I could do it in Zagreb, and I dreamed of Marija Jurić Zagorka’s breasts. It came true, and I wanted to share that incredible happiness with tourists. I see no reason for hatred, and that we don’t have a such custom in Croatia.”

It was sad watching the embarrassing fiasco of a person who supposedly traveled the world and still couldn’t understand the strong public backlash. The degrading tradition of groping Shakespeare’s fictional character was hardly comparable to making an utterly unsuccessful joke with a feminist pioneer. Nobody laughed at it, and nobody would be inspired to continue his proposed custom.

For more jaw-dropping experiences that will make you wonder, read the 6 biggest WTF moments of my travels!

Why do people rub statues?

The aspiring Croatian trendsetter who wanted tourists to have a physical experience with Zagorka’s statue instead of it “only being loved by pigeons with their feces” (as he explained in an interview), did not fully understand what’s needed for launching a tradition. So why do people really start rubbing some statues?

It’s a hard question, but we can speculate about possible answers.

1. Because this is how people are wired.

Touch is one of the first senses to develop in babies, providing them with vital information about their environment, and helping to soothe and calm them. It is an essential way of learning about the world’s textures, shapes, and sensations.

Protruding or hollow parts of objects are especially inviting for tactile interaction. Therefore, it is not unusual that those dangerous holes in the electrical outlet come with a siren call for the little fingers of our infants.

The primary development of touch could contribute to our desire for tactile experiences as adults, from observing someone’s tattoos by touching them, and feeling the texture of fruit in the supermarket, to – rubbing statues. By touching, we establish a powerful physical connection, which can be satisfying and rewarding.

Tactile experience grounds us and makes our conclusions believable, just like the doubting Thomas could not fathom the resurrection of Jesus without poking the Messiah’s wounds with his fingers first.

2. Because people are inclined to the concept of magic.

The reason for rubbing statues could be related to the concept of sympathetic magic, which is based on the idea that like produces like. Touching a statue may be seen as a way of transferring the qualities or characteristics of the statue to the person doing the touching.

For instance, rubbing a knee of a saint may be seen as a way to acquire the saint’s healing powers in that area. Touching Ripley‘s fertility statues would obviously make you pregnant, rubbing Juliet‘s breasts in Verona would bring happiness in love (as she is a character in a romantic tale), and businessmen rubbing their briefcases against the Wall Street‘s Charging Bull statue’s testicles could expect a fertile financial future.

Now, you might think that’s just plain ridiculous. But our naive superstitions sometimes brought us results that would reinforce these magical properties.

As I’ve learned in Basel Pharmacy Museum, one of the best museums in Basel, Switzerland, even the history of medicine explored this principle. For instance, we were using heart-shaped leaves to cure hearts, scorpions to heal wounds made by pointed objects because they had the pointed shape of a sting, or earthworms to treat abdominal pain because their curled shape resembled intestines.

Similarly, by rubbing statues, we might feel as if we are connecting with essential qualities these statues represent.

3. Because statues are in a public space.

People could feel they are allowed to rub statues because of their placement in a public space. Unlike the art galleries (remember that viral scandal in Indonesia?), where most people are aware of the appropriate behavior, town squares and streets seem to stimulate our feeling of unrestrained freedom.

In museums, we are taught about the rules of the experience as soon as we enter. Firstly, we pay an admission ticket, which makes us accountable. Maybe we even pass through a metal detector door. When finally facing the artwork, we find barriers separating our and their world, from rope fences to glass.

Indoor statues are usually properly lit and protected with alarm that will pierce our eardrums if we suddenly think of “seeing” the art from up close.

Around public statues, on the other hand, we do not typically see guards or other alert personnel. The statues are easily reachable, and available for any outdoor influence, from rain to pigeons, so we could easily think that we are allowed to have some tactile exploration of their surface.

4. Because people imitate each other.

It is quite probable that statue rubbing is influenced by the psychology of imitation. Social or observational learning is a process by which people adopt new behaviors or attitudes by observing the action of others.

Whether there is a social norm, a cultural expectation, or the desire for social acceptance or approval, we engage in behaviors that imitate others, especially when we are uncertain about what to do or how to behave.

Seeing other people rubbing a statue might make us do the same thing in order to conform, or participate in a shared experience or connection.

In the social media era, taking photographs of expected motives at certain “must-visit” sites reinforces the widespread and enduring behavior of statue rubbing.

5. Because people (believe they) are instructed to rub statues.

Sometimes, authority figures such as tour guides or religious leaders could be powerful motivators for engaging in statue rubbing. When the figure of authority tells us to do something, directly or indirectly, we may feel obligated or compelled to follow through with the request, even if we are uncertain about potential benefits.

People might be encouraged to statue rubbing as a way to show respect or reverence, as a method to gain good luck or other blessings, which can be appealing to some. Also, if we are presented with behavior like a common practice, we might feel pressure to follow through with the instruction in order to not offend or appear rude.

The knowledgeable authorities could even make us believe that parts of the bronze statue are golden for a reason. Gold, as a precious material that is valued for its rarity and beauty, is associated with wealth, prosperity, and divine power, so it could definitely influence our decision on engaging in statue rubbing.

However, that’s a sort of feedback loop, as people rub parts that seem to be golden, but also those parts are “golden” exactly because people frequently rub them.

Why do statues turn gold when rubbed?

Rubbing makes bronze statues turn gold because gold is actually the natural color of bronze.

Statues typically have a patina, the outside coloring that can be made by the artist or by nature (a great example of the latter one is the green-appearing Statue of Liberty).

Bronze is mostly made of copper, and when it’s exposed to air, moisture, or chemical processes applied by the artist, its color can range from brown to black, from blue to red.

Natural oxidation makes bronze statues darken in appearance. However, rubbing statues effectively removes the oxide, thus exposing the true color of bronze.

Frequent touching of the statue essentially acts as polishing, taking off the natural layer of corrosion, and giving it a shiny golden appearance.

While the bronze statue is not actually coated in gold, the perception of its rubbed surface can be an added motivating factor for people to engage in statue rubbing.

The anatomy of statue rubbing, from head to toes

Let’s take a closer look at the world’s most notable examples of statue rubbing, through a thorough body scan, from head to toes.

1. Head

The superstition that rubbing a bald man’s head is a ritual that brings good luck has been practiced from US president George Bush and boxing legend Muhammad Ali to French footballer Laurent Blanc during the 1998 World Cup. This widespread belief in the magical properties of hairless men is not that far from associating similar benefits with polishing statue heads.

The manhole marvel

In the world of statues, their feet are a more common object of worship than heads, simply because they are normally more easily available to passersby.

A rare but notable exception is the Čumil (Chumil) sculpture in Bratislava, Slovakia, simply because it’s positioned at street level. Depicting a cheerful man emerging from a manhole, the bronze statue by Viktor Hulík represents a worker maintaining the city’s underground sewer system. With a smile on his face, he enjoys the view at the corner of Laurinská and Panská streets.

Since 1997, when the statue was installed in the Old Town, it became a good luck charm of sorts. People spontaneously started rubbing Čumil’s head hoping to absorb his positive energy, and maybe even fulfill a wish or two.

The plumber’s power of attraction is so magnetic that already a couple of cars ran over him, and broke him to pieces. As a result, Čumil even got his own “Man at Work” road sign.

The beard of fortune

In Havana, there’s a local celebrity who’s been immortalized in bronze, and it’s not Fidel Castro. In front of the convent of San Francisco de Asís, the statue of a street man that roamed the capital of Cuba in the 1950s was erected.

José María López Lledín was better known by his nickname El Caballero de París (the gentleman from Paris). Always dressed in black, with long fingernails and a scruffy appearance, he was a friendly and talkative person but lost his marbles when he got arrested for a crime he did not commit.

El Caballero never begged, accepted only exchange of money for little gifts he was making and was even giving change to those who gave him cash. He was always available for discussions on the meaning of life, religion, and politics.

The sculpture made by José Villa Soberón is now a reminder that one can find fortune when one least expects it. Those who make a wish while rubbing the gentle knight’s whiskers will have their wish granted.

Rubbing the wrong head

Not every statue rubbing on its head will bring blessings. As a Pennsylvania teenager found out in 2014, touching the head of a statue could be interpreted as desecration, potentially leading to two years in prison.

The 14-year-old simulated a sex act with the statue of a kneeling Jesus in Everett, on the church lawn of the Christian group Love in the Name of Christ. Standing in front of the statue considered to be a venerated object, he suggestively posed with Christ’s head in front of his crotch and then posted the photograph on Facebook.

The naughty offender pleaded guilty in court and apologized for his behavior. The judge sentenced him to 350 hours of community service, a six-month ban on social media, and a 10 pm curfew during the probation.

As tempting as their heads might be, it’s important to remember that not all statues are created equal. Always think before you rub: will it bring you good luck or court date?

2. Nose

Now we get to finer details. As typically the most protruding part of a head, a statue’s nose has practically an open invitation for rubbing written on it. Especially when we talk about busts, which means statues without otherwise rubbing-appealing legs.

Abraham Lincoln’s nose job

Among the most notable statues with rubbed noses is the massive bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. Placed in front of Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois, back in the 1930s, the dark statue’s nose was getting shinier and shinier over time, after a million hands engaged in a silly act of holding a president’s nose.

The statue caretakers at Oak Ridge Cemetery were worried that constant rubbing would damage Lincoln’s nose to extent that no nose job would be able to mend it. In the 1970s, the statue was elevated to a hardly reachable height. The protest of local children successfully returned America’s favorite nose to its original position.

The author of Lincoln’s bust is Gutzon Borglum, the same sculptor responsible for the design of the presidential stone faces at Mount Rushmore. Aren’t you glad kids don’t have to do alpinism in order to reach the Lucky Nose?

Nobody knows who started the tradition of Lincoln’s statue rubbing, but when someone did it first at the second most visited cemetery in the country, the custom quickly picked up. The result is the glowing nose that, according to folklore, will bring good luck, and even share some power and wisdom of the Honest Abe if you look into his eyes while rubbing it.

Other U.S. noses worth picking

The nose of the first US president George Washington supposedly also transfers some good luck. You can find his bust at Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.

To boost your intelligence, visit Albert Einstein Memorial in Washington, D.C. One of the greatest scientists in the world got a triple-sized statue made by Robert Berks in 1979. Visitors love climbing it, but those who rub Einstein’s nose could potentially become smarter.

At Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, there is another statue nose rubbing tradition, popular among students. Rubbing the nose of Warner Bentley‘s bust at the Hopkins Center for the Arts allegedly brings good luck at racecar speed.

This custom sprang off from an earlier one in the 1930s; back then, students were seeking luck while rubbing the nose of the statue of dean Craven Laylock. This one was the most famous for punishing the student Theodor Geisel for drinking during Prohibition by kicking him out of the college’s humor magazine. And that’s how the pen name Dr. Seuss was born.

Nose for European literature and art

On the other side of the Atlantic, the writers’ noses bring luck to passersby. In Lodz, Poland, the star of the nose rubbing is the poet Julian Tuwim, another major figure in children’s literature. The monument of him sitting on the bench was constructed by the sculptor Wojciech Gryniewicz in the late 1990s.

In Dubrovnik, Croatia, now best known for the “Game of Thrones”, the famous Renaissance playwright Marin Držić sits on a throne that attracts equal attention. Even if locals are not the happiest about the custom, visitors keen on statue rubbing recognized the value of the oversized nose proposed by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović. In order to gain happiness, good luck, and hopefully a return visit to Dubrovnik, tourists added their touch to the artwork.

People of Saint Petersburg, Russia, love to rub the noses of the characters from novels. Especially popular are the statues of the Good Soldier Švejk (Jaroslav Hašek) and Ostap Bender (Ilf & Petrov).

In Cologne, Germany, rubbing the noses of the statues made after puppet characters Tünnes and Schäl should bring a smile to your face, just like the jokes about them would.

3. Arm

Judging by the golden hue of the entire Everard t’Serclaes Monument, one wouldn’t easily conclude that it is rubbing the statue’s arm that brings luck to the rubber.

The visitors of Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, thoroughly massaged the body of the national hero along and across, so it remains one of the shiniest statues on this list. That’s probably thanks to the length of the exposure to rubbing, as the sculptor Julien Dillens created this memorial back in 1898.

In the 14^th century, Everard t’Serclaes was a local patriot who successfully recovered Brussels from Flemish hands, but three decades later was brutally murdered by the orders of a Brabant lord.

Today, the legend survives that anyone rubbing the arm of the statue will not only be granted a wish but also secure the return to Brussels. In a dedicated search for good luck and love, tourists also rub other parts of the monument – notably the shield, the dog, and the angel’s face.

The Belgian capital has some impressive landmarks to explore. From Manneken Pis to Atomium, Brussels monuments are worthy of your attention. 

4. Finger

Despite what we learned from the James Bond movie, the goldfinger is not always the bad guy. Sometimes, the real finger with a golden sheen can bring better things than trouble.

The first finger worth touching is the one belonging to Zitronenjette, the popular lemon seller in Hamburg. By real name Henriette Johanne Marie Müller, this woman became a local legend at the end of the 19^th century, but due to issues with alcohol, she was institutionalized in an asylum.

In 1986, the sculptor Hansjörg Wagner dedicated a memorial to this small woman (she was 1,32 meters tall and had less than 35 kilograms) whose fame overgrown her. At Ludwig-Erhardt-Straße, near St. Michaelis’ Church, she still holds a basket offering lemons, but no longer yells “Zitron! Zitron!” to passing customers.

Occasionally attacked during her time, the woman whose life was as sour as lemons now brings luck to pedestrians who rub her finger. What more could you ask from a touching story?

In the neighboring town of Mölln, one can find another original character offering the finger with a golden glimmer for a good good-luck rub. Till Eulenspiegel was a trickster of the 14^th century, playing hilarious practical jokes that propelled him into a folk hero. To soak up some of that cheerful energy, give his thumb a good rub!

Who knew all it took for good luck was a bit of finger action?

5. Breasts

We’re now getting to a more controversial body section in this guide through statue rubbing. Okay, maybe you didn’t expect that incident with Christ’s head, but statues with female breasts generally get assaulted more often.

#Juliettoo

First stop: Verona, Italy. Casa di Giulietta or Juliet’s House is an invented home of the famous Shakespeare character. In the courtyard of the house, tourists gladly participate in a boob-grabbing ritual that brings significant income to the town. The centerpiece is Juliet’s statue made by the sculptor Nereo Costantini, placed here back in 1972.

Drawn by the legendary tragedy of forbidden love, visitors patiently wait for their five seconds of selfie fame. As the custom instructs, one needs to grope Juliet’s right breast in order to receive benefits in love life.

The cringy tradition that encourages adults and children to fondle the breasts of a teenager (the fictional character committed suicide when she was 13), all in a cheerful atmosphere, is a bizarre example of culture used as an excuse for promoting the most doubtful ideas.

Sure, one could say it’s just a statue, it’s fiction, it’s all Disneyland. But even in Disneyland, the content is not produced around grabbing Sleeping Beauty’s boobs as a wake-up call.

In 2014, poor Juliet herself couldn’t handle it anymore. Constant caressing made holes in her chest, and she had to be removed, and replaced by a substitute (made by Novello Finotti).

In 2020-2021, small plaques requesting visitors not to touch Juliet have been placed, with no special effect. Now that visitors are back, it’s ‘touch as much as you want’ again.

As Instagram reveals, it’s pretentious to believe that people who sometimes did not even read the book, would have enough courtesy to read – a warning sign.

 

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What is considered harmless behavior in Italy (and accidentally a lucrative business), is a serious red flag in countries that experienced the #metoo movement. When dr. Jon Einarsson, a surgeon from Boston, proudly showed his Juliet-rubbing photograph during his presentation at a 2017 gynecology conference, he received a furious response that consequently outed widespread sexual harassment and assaults in the industry.

Breast wishes

Not to an extent of Italian Juliet’s popularity (before the pandemic she was attracting 3 million tourists to Verona per year!), European cities still have their solid candidates for statues with frequently rubbed breasts.

Paris, for instance, has a statue of Dalida, created by the sculptor Aslan. France’s bestselling singer Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti – Dalida had a successful career, but also a private life filled with traumas. After three of her lovers and a close friend committed suicide over the years, the queen of French chanson also took her life in 1987. On the tenth anniversary of her death, the city named a small square in the Montmartre district after her and adorned it with her bronze bust. Pretty soon, people started rubbing her breasts, for “good luck”.

Dublin also has its statue with ample assets – Molly Malone. The capital of Ireland erected the sculpture by Jeanne Rynhart during the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations. They wanted to commemorate the 17^th-century legend of a woman that was selling fish by day and body by night. While the sexualized appearance of the statue was criticized among locals, the tour guides’ idea that rubbing her breasts brings good luck caught up. Now, the bossom’s shine is a reliable yardstick for measuring the success of the tourist season.

Munich, in Germany, has Juliet’s twin (cover image of this article), which was a donation of Verona in 1974. While German admirers did not grope the statue to the extent that one would think she wears a golden dress, it is very obvious where they focused their tactile attention. Rubbing the right breast will of course gift you with eternal love. If you place flowers in her hand, you will double your chances. You can find Juliet’s statue on the southern side of the Altes Rathaus (the Old Town Hall).

6. Belly

Rubbing bellies for good luck may sound like a strange concept, but it’s a belief that survived centuries, from temples of Asia to the streets of Europe. Forget the lottery and meet the bellies full of luck!

Stockholm hotspot

I don’t know if women that inspired bosomy statues would be glad to know that they became the rub victims of men with wet dreams and dry-lipped female enablers.

For Margaretha Krook, we know with certainty that she disliked even the idea of being immortalized as a statue because she perceived them as “cold and uninviting”.

The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden, outwitted the wishes of the famous actress by erecting a statue that would be – heated. In a way, the clever folks managed to have a cake, and (h)eat it at the same time.

At the corner of the theater building, the place where the actress used to puff on cigarettes before the show, she now stands in bronze, warmed up at comfortable 37 degrees Celsius.

Margaretha Krook’s stomach became a hotspot to resort to if you want to warm your hands or grab some good luck.

If it is true that the statue’s shiny belly grants wishes, imagine what Margaretha Krook herself would’ve asked for if she had the chance to touch it and have her wishes fulfilled!

The belly of Budapest

If you come to Hungary, one Budapest belly also promises to shower you with good luck. At the corner of Zrínyi utca and Október 6 utca, on the way to St. Stephen’s Basilica stands a statue of the Fat Policeman, sometimes referred to as Uncle Karl.

The sculptor Illyés András created the statue in 2008, inspired by the physique of his grandfather.

Hungarian lore says that rubbing the policeman’s bronze belly would bring you luck, especially in love. The other theory swears that the magical tummy touch would save you from gaining any weight while enjoying the hearty Hungarian cuisine. This diet savior has got your back (and belly)!

While you are in the neighborhood, you can start testing the guilt-free culinary journey by indulging in rose-shaped gelatos and other mouthwatering Hungarian desserts in Budapest.

Big bellied Buddha

Besides the Budapest belly myth, there is also the global Buddha belly myth. The belief basically says that rubbing Buddha’s belly will bring you good luck, prosperity, and wealth.

While in theory you could also rub Buddha’s head or ears, it is the large and in charge belly that does the trick. For the best of luck, look for the fattest Buddha statue on the shelf!

Not less important, it should be a laughing Buddha statue whose tummy you want to rub on a daily basis, in order to secure wealth.

Some explain that the origin of this custom can be traced to the Lingyin Temple. If their laughing Buddha statue helped them become one of China‘s largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples, why would anyone be skeptical?

You can easily find your laughing Buddha on Amazon. Get inspired by these precious options that can spice up your décor, but also elevate the good luck at your home and ensure prosperity in your life!

7. Butt

Not many places in the world could pull off a statue with butts “in your face” as Las Vegas could. For years, the backsides of the scantily clad Crazy Girls were the most photographed statue in Sin City.

The longest-running burlesque show in the United States started at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in 1987. When the building was scheduled for demolition, the Crazy Girls moved to Planet Hollywood in 2015. They had a good run there until finally, the pandemic put a halt on this entertainment reserved for adults.

The statue named “No Ifs, Ands, or Butts” was created by Michael Conine in 1997. It was welcomed by protests from feminist organizations. But as controversy only adds to the allure, the statue with butts managed to become a tourist attraction. The iconic photo-op landmark was moving with the show and was packed into storage after it ended.

The bronze derrières in G-strings belonging to the seven showgirls standing together were polished to a high shine over the years. With the odds stacked against them at casino tables and slot machines, it’s no wonder that people tried to multiply their luck by rubbing the Crazy Girls’ butts. Or maybe the gambling was just an easy excuse for raunchy behavior? In any case, the glowing behinds are silent witnesses that millions of people hoped to get hold of millions.

The bootylicious statue might have brought a fortune to some believers, but the R-rated show that was putting the strip on Las Vegas Strip, unfortunately, had to shut down. Together with the spectacle, the bronze rear ends also came to an end, waiting to be resurrected at some new venue.

8. Penis

While some might see male statues as works of art to be admired from a distance, others feel compelled to get up close and personal with certain parts of the anatomy. Yes, we’re talking about the statues with particularly prominent crotches that seem to draw the attention (and hands) of passersby.

Rubbing the forbidden fruit

Unlike Las Vegas visitors, European gamblers prefer rubbing male body parts to raise their chances of winning. In Monaco, the lucky charm is the penis of Adam!

Fernando Botero‘s corpulent Adam and Eve statues were unveiled behind the Casino de Monte-Carlo in 1981. Without fig leaves hiding the private parts, there was not much left to the imagination of those seeking an easy path to luck. Passersby rubbed Adam’s manhood hoping for some happy ending at the casino, and private life.

Oversized replicas of Adam and Eve, in Colombian artist’s signature figurative style, have popped up all over the world, grabbing equal attention. Adam at The Shops at Columbus Circle in New York, and the one at Plaza Botero in the artist’s hometown Medellin, also received generous handjobs from admirers.

But when Singapore‘s Resorts World Sentosa, known for showcasing famous art pieces in their hotel lobby, housed Botero’s couple from Eden, it was not exposed to a rub, but to a somewhat amusing outrage. The angered guest complained to the media that the “indecent statues” were not suitable for children’s eyes, calling out Adam’s penis as huge. “It should be small if it is art”, said the shocked man.

As for children’s exposure to naked sculptures, we’re not sure how the Singaporean would react if he would see Miloš Zet‘s statue Youth erected at Prague Castle in 1965. The bronze figure of a young boy, whose well-worn penis has changed color due to good luck rubbing, has been installed in front of the – Toy Museum.

Lviv statue that’s hard to resist

Moving on from innocent victims of statue rubbing to the one that was seemingly conceived with groping in mind… For the following unusual statue, we would have to travel to Lviv, Ukraine.

On Serbska street in the Old Town, just in front of the Masoch Hotel & Cafe, stands a monument to the city’s most famous citizen, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.

It may happen that you do not know much of his literary work (does “Venus in Furs” ring a bell?), but you’ve certainly heard about the sexual affinity named after this 19th-century writer: the masochism.

If you don’t want to explore the pleasures of domination and submission in a whipping-allowed hotel/bar hiding behind the keyhole-shaped door (celebration of voyeurism at large!), Masoch’s statue itself has a kinky side.

Sure, you could give his crotch a little squeeze from the outside, but by now you’ve learned: that’s a child’s game. Unlike the other statues in this section, this one actually holds an inner secret. For the full experience, slip your hand into his left pocket, and you’ll be able to explore his entire package!

Well, he is definitely happy to see you! Masoch’s private parts are as hard as bronze can get. To completely fulfill your search for good luck, you might be only missing that Swedish ingenuity – the heating.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s lucky groin

Madeira in Portugal is proud of its most famous islander. In 2014, it rewarded one of the world’s best footballers with a statue in Funchal. Since then, the bronze version of Cristiano Ronaldo has been getting significant attention from his groping groupie fans.

Designed by the artist Ricardo Madeira Veloso, the statue quickly drew all the gazes to its most prominent feature: the sizable bulge. And when the rubbing started, nobody could control it anymore.

Ronaldo’s groin area now shines so brightly that, if we were at a stadium, any goalkeeper would have trouble concentrating on the ball.

While messing with Cristiano Ronaldo’s real crotch on the field would get you a red card, everything seems to be permitted with his statue. Motivated by good luck, or just some plain good fun, holidaymakers in Ronaldo’s hometown don’t want to leave empty-handed.

Just like with Dalida’s breasts, touching Cristiano Ronaldo’s penis is crossing the line without fear of a penalty. It is a giggly expression of hope that some of their stardom would rub off on the rubbers, with social media bragging rights as the ultimate reward.

But hey, no judging!

 

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The penis mightier than the sword

Last but certainly not least in this section of molested statue crotches is actually a monumental misconduct. If he would know he has become the plaything of licentious crowds, Victor Noir would be surely turning in his grave.

This French political journalist was murdered in an 1870 duel with Napoleon‘s cousin, prince Pierre Bonaparte, and became a sort of an adored martyr. At Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, his final resting place became a pilgrimage destination, where people came to honor him.

But sculptor Jules Dalou thought the best way to represent the journalist was through a statue in a lying position, with unbuttoned trousers and a noticeable bulge. There was nothing erotic in Noir’s biography, yet after his death at 22, he became a talisman for love and sexual desires.

Rubbing the statue’s swelled-up groin, exchanging French kisses with his lips, and leaving flowers in his hat (there had to be some romance; we’re in Paris, after all) is a recipe for good luck in love, blissful sex life, and fertility.

Noir’s genitals grant wishes in a timeframe of one year, or so they say. Touching his right foot will secure a pregnancy, and for ambitious mother wannabees, the left foot gets you twins.

In 2004, authorities tried to stop the frenzy around the miraculous penis by fencing off the statue and putting up a sign warning that “indecent rubbing will be prosecuted”. French women loudly protested against the “attack on their rights”, and the fence was taken down.

Noir’s discolored crotch and mouth are physical proof of how the myth of a journalist’s postmortal influence is considered seriously.

From Dita von Teese to Instagram influencers, everyone seems to want to give Victor Noir’s statue a ride. Women (and the occasional man) planting kisses and simulating copulation at a tomb is probably the steamiest scene you expect to witness at an otherwise peaceful cemetery.

Check out this Instagram collection of Victor Noir’s unsuspecting mistresses!

 

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9. Knees

Knees are not exactly the most alluring rubbing zone of the world’s statues, but some did succeed at drawing attention to this body part.

Kiskirálylány or the Little Princess is a statuette of a girl wearing a cape-like bathrobe and a DIY crown, sitting on the tram railing at Danube Promenade, near the iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest.

The artist László Marton modeled the sculpture after his playful daughter who loved to exercise her imaginary royal status by wearing makeshift crowns made of newspapers.

Placed in a busy pedestrian area, the statue quickly captured the hearts of Budapest. Locals passing by developed a tradition of rubbing her knees, solidifying the Little Princess as another Hungarian good luck idol.

But the knees of the princess would tremble if she would see what the king does with his. In Medjugorje, the famous Catholic pilgrimage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the statue of the Risen Christ supposedly has miraculous powers.

The statue was a donation of the Slovenian sculptor Andrija Ajdič in 1998, and for many years it has been filling up media columns with its unusual “weeping knee”. Water leaking from the bronze knee of the Son of God was celebrated for its supposed healing properties. It was worshipped by the faithful ones, collected into prayer clothes, and used to treat the sick.

Statues can indeed condensate inside, but this particular example shows that it doesn’t take much for people to develop superstitions, and interpret the world in any way that fits their beliefs.

Those water droplets from Jesus statue’s knee were proven to be “human tears”, whatever that’s supposed to mean. When it comes to statue rubbing, any statue that can cry from the knee is definitely worth a try.

10. Feet

Judging by the number of examples in our final category of statue rubbing anatomy, foot fetishism is a widespread phenomenon. Those that like to rub statues’ feet, toes, or shoes, could be broken down into several categories.

Rubbing feet for divine intervention

Bronze statues of Saint Peter are especially popular rubbing targets among Roman Catholics. Typically presented as seated, holding keys of God’s kingdom in his hand, with the right foot forward, the statue of the first among the apostles is practically asking for rubbing down below.

The most famous is, of course, the saint’s statue in the Vatican, at St. Peter’s Basilica, accredited to the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century. But the same level of reverence receive the feet of Saint Peter’s statues in Westminster Cathedral in London and in the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.

Pilgrims typically touch or kiss Saint Peter’s right foot, hoping for a blessing, and favorable treatment once they reach heaven’s doors.

Centuries of improv pedicure have worn out some of these statues so that feet not only started shining but also got deformed.

The other religious statue worth mentioning because of its rubbing aura is representing Gregory of Nin. The famous “toe of Croatia” belongs to the medieval bishop’s left foot, and receives regular rubbing by tourists seeking fulfillment of wishes and good luck.

Created by the famous monumental sculptor Ivan Meštrović, the statue moved around Split since its erection, finally settling north of the Diocletian’s Palace, close to the Golden Gate.

If you happen to be in Nin or Varaždin, it’s good to know that these Croatian towns also have smaller versions of Meštrović’s saint, with equally lucky big toes.

Next time you find yourself face-to-foot with a religious statue, don’t hesitate to give it a rub. You might get a heavenly blessing or at least a good photo for your feed!

Rubbing feet for political charisma

Down here on Earth, we still sometimes feel the urge to glorify the mortals. Besides dedicating statues to our political leaders, we polish their shoes in their bronze afterlife, hoping that some of their charisma could contagiously infect us.

Probably the most famous example is the statue of Winston Churchill in the Members’ Lobby of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The conservative members of the British Parliament developed a routine where they would rub the statue’s foot on their way to the Commons Chamber, believing it would bring them good luck and that famous bulldog spirit in political debates.

Statues of Margaret Thatcher, David Lloyd George, and Clement Attlee, experienced the same shoe-shining treatment. But eventually, serious hairline fractures and cracks were noticed in their footwear. Politicians who goldened up Churchill’s left foot were asked to control their obsessive rubbing behavior.

Sir Francis Powell, an English conservative politician from the second half of the 19th century, was luckier in keeping his shoe-shining fans on board. His statue was placed at Mesnes Park, in his hometown of Wigan in 1910. With his right shoe conveniently protruding from the statue’s base, Powell was an always accessible talisman whenever people needed a quick good luck boost.

And boy, did they need it! His fellow citizens felt it almost a duty not to let Powell’s foot turn green, so they’ve been rubbing off the patina with a dedicated vigor. Well, this foot massage went a bit too far. The good-luck rubs eventually created a hole in the statue’s foot! That’s some devoted fanbase.

Rubbing feet for wisdom

Another school of thought is intrigued by the idea that statues’ feet can channel the intelligence of the people they represent. In the vicinity of universities, they became the last resort for students struggling with tough exams.

In 1995, the sculptor Alexander Sandy Soddart depicted the 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume as a Greek god, wrapped in a toga.

It’s a historic irony that this Enlightenment figure, known for his strong opposition to superstitions, became a target of one.

Local philosophy students started a tradition of rubbing the right-foot toe of the statue placed at Edinburgh‘s Royal Mile, in hope of soaking up some of the thinker’s brain power.

French philosopher Michel de Montaigne receives similar treatment from students of the prestigious University of Sorbonne in Paris.

The statue representing the Renaissance intellectual in a relaxed position, sitting with his legs crossed, was created by Paul Landowski, the author of Rio‘s Christ the Redeemer.

Since 1933, students seeking scholarly success ask for Montaigne’s help, by greeting the statue aloud and polishing his right shoe to a gleaming shine.

In a similar position, at Yale University, sits its former president Theodore Dwight Woolsey. Rubbing his left foot promises to bring good luck, in exams and love life, but also in boat races, whose crews Woolsey loved supporting.

According to the legend, he would push the boat off with his left foot, and the team would always emerge victorious. Beware of the right foot though, as that one seemed to be cursed with bad luck!

At Harvard University, the statue of John Harvard, the man who donated hundreds of books to the college, has a shiny left shoe.

Besides rubbing, the monument made by sculptor Daniel Chester French in 1884, also received a lot of vandalism over the years, including a green paint-over by some Dartmouth students (yes, those who rub the nose!).

Today, foot rubbing of the book-holding statue is mostly performed by tourists, as students are aware of the secret pre-graduation rituals, which include naked runs, sex in the library, and, well, urinating on John Harvard’s statue. No wonder it takes up to six power-washings a year to keep it clean!

The dirty truth about statue rubbing

Atlas Biomed, a company specializing in at-home DNA and microbiome tests, conducted Europe-wide research on what we actually come in touch with when rubbing statues.

Armed with swabs and a healthy dose of curiosity, the Sherlock Holmes of the microbiome world tested 24 monuments across nine European countries. They were looking to detect microscopic creatures living on these frequently rubbed surfaces, from Juliet’s breast in Verona to Victor Noir’s bulge in Paris.

Bacteria found on frequently rubbed statues can cause eye, bladder, and follicle infections, endocarditis, and even deadly sepsis

The 2019 study found 29 different bacteria, out of which only two are normally present in the human microbiome. The dominant part of the samples consisted of opportunistic strains “that have the potential to make humans ill”.

For instance, the most abundant species was Staphylococcus, which can cause highly transmittable eye infections, bladder infections, endocarditis, and in the worst case deadly sepsis.

Then there were Pseudomonas which can endanger vulnerable immune systems, cause hair follicle infections, or even invade the bloodstream.

The continent-wide quest also showed that bacteria travel easily, and don’t mind border controls. The microbiome of Budapest’s Little Princess, for instance, was found quite similar to Dalida’s bust in Paris.

Unless you want to risk catching something nasty, Atlas Biomed experts advise washing hands thoroughly after touching any public statues. Anyone with open wounds or immunosuppression, for instance, should better avoid rubbing statues altogether.

Rubbing statues for good luck – conclusion

As we’ve seen, statue rubbing is a widespread ritual performed by people from all walks of life: from religious ones to atheists, from politicians to students, from those who do it for pure fun to those who are ready to protest for their right to rub.

We’ve covered the entire anatomy of this practice that spans from the top of the head to the little toe, with generously spent time on the private parts of the most controversial world’s statues.

Like in a Greek myth of King Midas, we might be easily convinced that our touch turns the objects of our rubbing to gold. But the very same hands-on experience causes damage to the statues in the long term, as well as leaves potential health hazards for the next rubber. Not all that glitters is gold.

Sometimes, we can try to justify our behavior by wanting to have a first-hand experience of art. In other moments, we just want to rub shoulders with the stars. In tactile tourism, we’ve found a seemingly safe ground that allows us to “cross the boundaries”, and disconnect from the social judgment of our actions. But good luck rubs could come with a bill attached.

In some cases, touching statues can be seen as a sign of disrespect, particularly if it involves religious context or, as in the case of that Zagreb TV show on breast rubbing, if it tries to launch a tradition in a delicate political space that doesn’t see crossing every boundary as amusing.

Statue rubbing has been around for centuries. It won’t just die out tomorrow

Even in the hypersensitive times that excel at political correctness, statue hunters somehow manage to laughingly grope a teenager’s breasts or to engage in raunchy sex acts on people’s graves. Certain people can’t seem to keep their hands off the statues, and some of these monuments were just unlucky to become the symbols of good luck.

The behavior that our societies still allow today only goes to say that statue rubbing, just like other traditions, has been forming over decades and centuries. It will not just die out tomorrow.

Whether it is a quirky superstition, a tasteless habit, or mainly a germophobe’s worst nightmare, the debate about statue rubbing will probably remain. After all, it’s a touchy subject.

What do you think about rubbing statues for good luck?
Leave your comment and pin the article for later!

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The cover image of this article by Goran Jakus was sourced through Depositphotos, my go-to platform for high-quality licensed stock images. They have great photo deals, so check them out!

The authors of other photographs are typically mentioned in image titles and Alt Text descriptions. In order of appearance, these are:

Boris Veličan - Screenshot HRT.
Youth - Anguskirk, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Binzuru - Ivan Kralj.
Robert Wadlow - anthonylibrarian,  licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Charles Bridge - baldeaglebluff, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Jeju Loveland - Ivan Kralj.
George Washington - Frank Fujimoto, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Čumil - archer10 (Dennis), licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
El Caballero de París - fabulousfabs, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Pennsylvania teenager - Facebook.
Abraham Lincoln - edenpictures, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Albert Einstein - mifl68, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Marin Držić - BangorArt, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Everard t’Serclaes - fergie_lancealot, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Zitronenjette - Illustratedjc, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Juliet - ikeofspain, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Juliet - DocJelly, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Dalida - Katell-Ar-Gow, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Molly Malone - Mark Sardella, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Margaretha Krook - Frankie Fouganthin, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Fat Policeman - rchappo2002, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Laughing Buddha - brianholsclaw, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
Crazy Girls - brx0, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Crazy Girls - bloody marty mix, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Adam and Eve - deltaMike, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Adam - amalthya, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch - Anosmia, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Christiano Ronaldo - wuestenigel, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Victor Noir - istolethetv, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Dita von Teese - Facebook.
Little Princess - NH53, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Medjugorje - Lsimon, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Saint Peter - smileham, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Gregory of Nin - Gwendolyn Stansbury, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Winston Churchill - UK Parliament, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Sir Francis Powell - Chris_Skoyles, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
David Hume - Neil Owen, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Michel de Montaigne - Djof, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
John Harvard - wallyg, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
John Harvard - Vegasjon, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Discolored statues (pin image) - pthread1981, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Juliet (pin image) - DocJelly, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. 
Other images have been embedded from Instagram.

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Charlie Chaplin will always be remembered as the Little Tramp, a lonely but romantic dreamer with a small mustache and big shoes

The official cause of death of the movie legend was – a stroke. Charlie Chaplin was 88, and for some years, his health has been deteriorating, impacting his ability to see, hear, speak, and move.

Born under the name Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr., the English silent movie comedian made an immense impact on the world of cinema, spreading Hollywood’s fame around the globe. With a renaissance talent, he was all-in-one; an actor, director, producer, choreographer, and composer.

The contribution of Charlie Chaplin to world cinema will always be remembered for the Little Tramp character, a lonely but romantic dreamer with a small mustache and big shoes. After the most memorable non-verbal creations in “The Gold Rush” (1925), “The Circus” (1928), “City Lights” (1931), and “Modern Times” (1936), he finally let the speech into his world in “The Great Dictator” (1940). In this historic movie, Chaplin made fun of the most dangerous mustache-bearer ever, something American movie studios didn’t want to support at the time.

Opposing Adolf Hitler was not enough to prove that Charlie Chaplin was on the right side of history. His political engagement during World War II was labeled as communist activity, and together with his involvement with much younger wives, it produced a public backlash in the States. Helped by the FBI and CIA, Charlie Chaplin was canceled long before woke culture became a trendy weapon.

After the US revoked his visa in 1952, Chaplin’s family moved to Switzerland, where he would spend the last 25 years of his life.

Another cultural icon, Freddie Mercury, also found his refuge in Vevey's neighborhood. If you love Queen, this is what you have to see in Montreux!

Top 9 things to do in Vevey for Charlie Chaplin fans

1. Immerse yourself in Chaplin’s World Studio

In Corsier-sur-Vevey, at Rte de Fenil 2, next to Charlie Chaplin’s final home, a museum celebrating his life opened on April 17^th, 2016.

Hollywood-style studio experience starts as a movie projection in a small cinema that quickly teleports you to the streets of London, where Chaplin spent his poverty-stricken childhood. You step behind the screen and experience the literal magic of immersion with the Oscar-awarded artwork of the world-famous legend.

Exploring the variety of museum sections, from the circus ring to Hollywood Boulevard, one gets in close contact with the sets of the movie classics. You can take a selfie in the cabin from “The Gold Rush” or with the cogs from “Modern Times”. You can see the precious exhibits of Chaplin’s original bowler hat, cane and shoes, but also check out how your own Tramp character would look in a tight jacket and baggy trousers.

Collaboration with Grévin wax museum enabled an innovative scene design populated with more than 30 wax figures. The collection includes the artists Chaplin’s iconic character inspired, such as Roberto Benigni, Federico Fellini, and Michael Jackson. Did you know that Chaplin was an idol of the king of pop? Supposedly, even the famous Jackson’s Moonwalk was inspired by Chaplin’s dance during the “Nonsense” song at the end of “Modern Times”!

Charlie Chaplin was famous for doing all of his stunts himself, from falling through the roof to tripping down the stairs. And he would film again and again until he would get that perfect shot. In “The Circus”, he entered the lions’ cage 200 times, until the sequence was perfect. The museum nicely displays how Chaplin didn’t mind spending movie rolls for the best result; for instance, out of 135.000 meters of film for “The Kid”, only 1.600 meters made the final cut.

Who owns Chaplin’s World?

The entire Charlie Chaplin’s estate was purchased in 2008 by Genii Capital, a capital investment company based in Luxembourg. Together with the Swiss architect Philippe Meylan and Canadian museographer Yves Durand, they founded the Domaine du Manoir de Ban company. The museumChaplin’s World is today operated by Grévin, the subsidiary brand of Compagnie des Alpes that manages leisure projects from ski resorts to amusement parks.

Chaplin’s World opening hours

Chaplin’s World is open from 10 am to 7 pm in July and August. From April to June, as well as in September and October, the museum closes at 6 pm. From November to March, Charlie’s World closes another hour earlier, at 5 pm.

Chaplin’s World tickets

Entrance ticket for Charlie’s World costs 29 Francs, with discounts for children (19 CHF), seniors (27 CHF), students (25 CHF), and persons with disabilities (17-25 CHF). Kids below the age of 6 can experience the museum free of charge.

You can purchase your Chaplin’s World ticket here.

2. Visit Manoir de Ban, Charlie Chaplin’s home villa

On the place of former farmland, Charles Emile Henri de Scherer engaged local architect Philippe Franel to build the neoclassical mansion in the 1840s, then known as Champ de Ban. Later, an entire spectrum of people passed through the house, from watchmakers and industrialists to war refugees and American diplomats.

In September 1952, while sailing from New York to London, to attend the premiere of his newest movie “Limelight”, Charlie Chaplin found out that the USA, the country he lived in for four decades, revoked his re-entry permit. Following the advice of his half-brother Sydney, he decided to relocate to Switzerland. On New Year’s Eve, he purchased Manoir de Ban.

After the renovation, the manor had 19 rooms, more than enough to host the growing family (Oona and Charlie would end up having eight children), and even famous guests who would come for a visit (from Marlon Brando, Truman Capote, Pablo Casals and Yehudi Menuhin to Knie Circus performers and animals).

Especially interesting are the three ground floor rooms; the dining room, the sitting room, and the library, where Chaplin worked on screenplays for “A King in New York” and “A Countess from Hong Kong”, as well as the books “My Autobiography” and “My Life in Pictures”. These rooms have been preserved as they were in the 1970s, with mostly original furniture.

In the bathroom, one can find another Grévin’s wax figure, representing Chaplin’s good friend Albert Einstein, in his characteristic sticking-the-tongue-out pose. The Nobel laureate supposedly told Chaplin: “What I most admire about your art, is your universality. You don’t say a word, yet the world understands you!” The actor responded to Einstein: “True. But your glory is even greater! The whole world admires you, even though they don’t understand a word of what you say.”

For an even older piece of architecture, make a day trip to Chillon. The most famous castle in Switzerland is just 12 kilometers away.

3. Walk around Chaplin’s estate park

“With such happiness, I sometimes sit out on our terrace at sunset and look over a vast green lawn to the lake in the distance, and beyond the lake to the reassuring mountains, and in this mood think of nothing but enjoy their magnificent serenity.”

This is how Charlie Chaplin described the view from his terrace in “My Autobiography”, in1964.

He loved his roses and tulips, but also roe-deers, foxes, badgers, owls, and other birds that would visit the garden. Chaplin’s connection with the park was special.

The 14-hectare park on a sun-washed plateau above Vevey was a fun playground for Chaplin’s offspring. They would be exploring the grounds every day, running through the woods and climbing trees in the orchard.

The children recall Chaplin asking them not to walk on snow-covered grounds in winter, in order to preserve the pristine view that he admired so much.

Today, the estate is a peaceful area for walks among the century-old trees such as cypresses, pines, cedars, sequoias, beeches, elms, spruces, maples, and poplars. One can truly appreciate the nature that comforted the actor after he left America, describing it as a prison.

On April 16^th, 2017, 662 people dressed up as Little Tramps, put on their toothbrush mustaches, and showed up in this park, mimicking Charlie Chaplin’s characteristic walk. They set the world record for the largest gathering of Charlie Chaplin lookalikes.

But on July 10^th, 2022, during the passage of the famous bicycle race Tour de France nearby, another magnificent image left the estate. French artist Franck Bonneau celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the movie “The Kid” by creating a giant portrait of Charlot out of grass! The monumental land-art visual, seen only from the sky, covered 10 thousand square meters.

Check out Franck Bonneau’s impressive artwork on our Youtube channel! 

4. Admire murals on Chaplin Towers

In Quartier Gilamont, at the northernmost part of Avenue de Gilamont, two low-rent resident buildings pay tribute to Charlie Chaplin with monumental murals.

Previously neglected neighborhood, isolated and disconnected from the town center, with Chaplin Towers worked on reestablishing its identity.

The project was produced by CitéCréation, the company that creates emblematic monumental works all over the world for four decades now.

The artist behind 40-meter-tall images on the facades of Gilamont buildings is Franck Bouroullec.

Together with a colleague Sébastien Pridmore, in the summer of 2022, he created another, 16-meter tall mural of Charlie Chaplin in Vevey, at Rue de Lausanne 7.

 

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A post shared by Sebastien Pridmore (@s_pridmore)

5. Take a selfie with the Charlie Chaplin statue

There is another, more easily accessible artwork inspired by Charlie Chaplin.

On the banks of Lac Leman, in between the Alimentarium food museum and the world’s tallest fork (an 8-meter sculpture in the lake, designed by Jean-Pierre Zaugg), there is a bronze statue of The Tramp.

The statue is the work of the British sculptor John Doubleday, and it has stood here since 1982.

Chaplin’s statue is a popular place to memorize in a selfie or two.

6. Pay respect at Charlie Chaplin’s grave

Charlie Chaplin has been buried in a grave at Cimetière de Corsier-sur-Vevey, Sur le Crêt 3. His first neighbor is Oona O’Neill, his beloved wife who joined him 14 years later.

While Chaplin’s final resting place is easy to find at this small cemetery, in 1978, it was a scene of a rather controversial event.

As soon as the winter started to fade, the two men executed a creepy plan. On March 1^st, Roman Wardas and Gantcho Ganev, two Eastern European car mechanics, dug out Chaplin’s grave and stole the coffin.

The grave-robbing duo thought they had a perfect plan. They would contact the widow and demand a ransom of 600 thousand dollars if she wanted the stolen body back.

Even if Chaplin’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated at 100 million dollars, Oona refused to welcome the demand. She said that her husband would’ve called the ransom request “ridiculous”.

Two and a half months later, police tracked Chaplin’s kidnappers while they were placing what had to be the 27^th call from a local phone booth.

They were arrested and prosecuted, and have expressed their apologies for the methods they used with the intention to solve their financial difficulties.

While Oona forgave them, Chaplin’s coffin was reburied, but now in a reinforced concrete grave that would hopefully deter future grave robbers.

7. Stay in Modern Times Hotel Vevey

If you are a true Charlie Chaplin fan, staying in Vevey would not be complete without spending a night in the hotel inspired by the movie legend’s classic – the Modern Times Hotel, at Chem. Du Genévrier 20.

This 4-star property offers modern rooms, in accordance with its name, of course. It has a grill restaurant with a bar and a large garden terrace, as well as a fitness center.

Modern Times Hotel is a so-called Minergie building, constructed with sustainable energy-saving in mind. It gets its electricity and warm water from solar panels, and guests with electric cars can charge them at designated charging stations.

If Chaplin-inspired décor in rooms and common places is not enough for you, you can join the movie star seated on the bench in front of the hotel.

The room rates start at 120 Euros, but there are even packages that include Chaplin’s World museum visit (with a limousine transfer!), as well as Chaplin-inspired gifts. For the actual prices for your desired dates, click here.

If you want to check out other accommodation options in Vevey, find the best prices here.

8. Eat in Auberge de L’Onde, Saint-Saphorin

Charlie Chaplin was a regular at this country-style brasserie/rotisserie in the center of Saint-Saphorin village, five kilometers far from his home. Every Sunday, he would bring his large family to Auberge de L’Onde for a lunch.

Supposedly, his favorite meals were tarragon-chicken and Provence-style frog legs.

Today, in the special room named Salon Chaplin, you can order a seasonal Chaplin Menu for 59 Francs. You will get amuse bouche, for starter – crispy egg, mushroom fricassee and caramel gruyère espuma, for the main dish – sautéed cockerel marinated in herbs with matchstick fries, and for dessert – fresh pear with hazelnut.

9. Finish your day with a movie at Cinema Rex

Rex Cinema in Vevey, Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau 6, was the place where Charlie Chaplin would come to test the soundtrack of his movies, but also the place where he would take the whole family to see new titles.

The first Swiss multi-screen cinema (well, with three screening halls) has been operating since 1933, and it is a historic place worth visiting.

You might not see Chaplin’s movies in regular repertoire, but if you want to experience “Avatar” dubbed in French, you’ll certainly have fun!

Is Chaplin’s World worth visiting?

Charlie Chaplin’s life story is dramatically inspiring, as it comes from a true man of the world, a unique filmmaker who defied definitions, and scared those who only accepted black-and-white classifications.

Chaplin’s World exposes how evergreen his cinematic world was, capable of traversing decades and still staying relevant

Hollywood fell in love with him, and then when he decided to raise his voice for political things that matter, turned back on him. He opposed nazi Germany, but Americans feared that his artistic protest could open doors to Soviet communism.

He didn’t pick sides, however. In his speech at Artists’ Front to Win the War in 1942, Chaplin said: “I’m not a citizen, I don’t need citizenship papers, and I’ve never had patriotism in that sense for any country, but I’m a patriot to humanity as a whole. I’m a citizen of the world. If the Four Freedoms mean anything after this war, we don’t bother about whether we are citizens of one country or another.”

But what he experienced after the war was that his mystical position as the “citizen of the world” was a perfect place to exercise the fruitless Cold War.

It is not unusual that he sought refuge in Switzerland, the country with whose (equally controversial) neutrality he could more easily align in those times. Vevey was his new home, a deserved place where he could easily escape from people, and find comfort in nature.

Chaplin’s World, and all other places in Vevey that pay homage to this great artist, expose how evergreen his cinematic world was, capable of traversing decades and still staying relevant.

Charlie Chaplin was an artist who spoke about his own past, but also about everyone’s present. He was not afraid about raising hard questions and giving them comic relief.

Surely, if he would live today, maybe his Little Tramp character would be Little Trump instead, a cinematic mirror that Hollywood prefers to avoid, bathing in fantastic Avatar and Marvel worlds.

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Disclosure: My Chaplin's World visit was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Charlie Chaplin’s World: Top 9 Places You Must Visit in Vevey appeared first on Pipeaway.

Kaunas is a European Capital of Culture of 2022. The title will undoubtedly bring flocks of new visitors to Lithuania’s second-largest city. But for one reason, Kaunas is the world capital. The Devils’ Museum has the largest collection of devil art on Earth.

Located 110 kilometers west of Vilnius, the address V. Putvinskio gatvė 64 is home to Žmuidzinavičius Museum, better known as Devils’ Museum. Thousands of tourists visit this original museum every year, putting it on the top of the Kaunas must-see list.

With constantly submitted artworks, Devil’s Museum collection surpassed 3.000 exhibits

The unique collection of devil art, one of its kind, was initiated by the prominent Lithuanian painter and art collector Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (1876-1966). In 1906, somebody gave him a Samogitian Devil as a present. Then he received another one, and another one, and one more. Soon, the painter’s home address became a post box for hundreds of devil statues seeking adoption.

He wanted to acquire thirteen dozen of them (169), but in the end, he had 260! He exhibited them in his house, in the painting studio. Five years before his death, Žmuidzinavičius donated them to the state.

This peculiar devil art collection was opened to the public after he died but gained huge popularity. In 1982, it had to move to the wing next to the memorial museum. As Devil Museum of Kaunas still accepts the donations of the visitors, the actual number of devil artifacts continually grows. It already surpassed 3.000 exhibits!

If you want to experience another mysterious side of Kaunas, join this ghost tour of the Old Town!

The devil is in the details

The cleaning lady carefully polishes the glass cases in which they display the devils. Fingerprints should not obstruct the view.

But everybody wants to point at their favorite devil. Thousands of visitors every year walk through the three floors of the exhibition, carefully reading the stories about this most unusual museum display. There are many fingers involved. Everyone is brave to point at the devil if he is behind the glass.

These are not just works of fine and applied arts. These are not just piles of souvenirs and masks. Devils’ Museum provides a thorough insight into the world of the devil – the mysterious and intriguing mythological creature.

Whether they are painted on silk or canvas, whether they are carved in wood, made of ceramic, stone, glass, or paper, whether they come like masks or like usable objects such as pipes or ashtrays, these devils act as witnesses of the evolution of explaining the world.

Interested in unusual museums? Make sure to also visit the Romanian Kitsch Museum in Bucharest!

Devil art rooted in paganism or Christianity?

In the pre-Christian tradition, the devil was considered to be a Chthonic being, one of the three highest mythological deities – alongside God, the creator, and the Thunder, the one who preserves the order.

The underworld and everything connected to the earth’s surface was assigned to the devil. This included plants, animals, farmers, craftsmen.

In its folkloric version, the devil didn’t follow the rules. He was making hills instead of flat land, creating bats instead of birds, planting weed instead of flowers.

Lithuania considered him the richest mythological being, the one directly associated with money. He could even buy one’s soul.

Furthermore, people believed that the devil was making the windmill wings turn. That is why millers were rich people.

In the Christian tradition, the devil (aka Satan/Lucifer/Beelzebub/Antichrist) was depicted as a fallen angel, the one who rebelled against God. God, therefore, punished him and threw him into Hell.

For those interested in the Satan's playground itself, Vietnam is home to a hell cave. It's called Am Phu Cave, and it's a must-visit attraction of the Marble Mountain. 

A priest behind the Devils’ Museum in Kaunas

One representative of Christianity actually took a significant role in establishing Žmuidzinavičius’ new hobby. It was Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, the priest.

The parson of Laižuva Holy Trinity church donated the so-called “Trampled Devil” to the artist.

The artwork was created in the 18^th century, and Žmuidzinavičius recalls the episode of its arrival in his memoirs: “It was taken from the altar of Archangel Michael of the church of Laižuva. Here, the archangel ordered by God is trampling the devil rebellious against God and slams him into hell. Unfortunately, only the legs of the archangel remain in the composition. Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas sawed the archangel off as it was very high; it was inconvenient to bring such a huge thing to Kaunas by train.”

Lords of the underworld from the entire world

After the priest’s unusual gift, lords of the underworld started arriving in Kaunas, from all corners of the globe. More than 70 countries had some devil art to share, and this included former Soviet republics, but also countries such as Japan, Cuba, and Mexico.

Today, Devils’ Museum covers a broad spectrum of public events connected to the devil as well. From the Devil’s Feast in Venezuela via Walpurgis Night in Germany to the tradition of the American Halloween, Bulgarian carnivals, and St. Nicholas/Krampus in southeastern Europe, this Lithuanian museum honors the main festivals where the devils claim their place.

In Lithuania, during Shrove Tuesday festivities, the revelers wear masks and costumes, frequently the devil ones, while they try to frighten and intimidate. They create noise, dance, and sing. At the end of the event, they burn a figure of a woman (in different regions of Lithuania, they call her Kotre, More, or Čiučela). This should symbolize the end of the winter.

Sympathy for the Lithuanian devil

Nobody counted the Lithuanian names for the count of the darkness, but experts estimate that there are more than a thousand.

Kipšas (the dickens), Pinčiukas (the deuce), Bevardis (the nameless), Bekelnis (the trouserless), Biesas (the evil force), Ponaitis (the young master), and Negerasis (the not-good one) are just some of them.

More than 5.000 Lithuanian legends and fairy tales mention the devil, and about 400 Lithuanian places bear the name of the beast; Velnio Duobe (Devil’s Hole), Velniaraistis (Devil’s Bog) and Velniabale (Devil’s Swamp) are just some of the places that let the devil into their world.

 Once a man argued with a devil who is smarter. The man said that the devil would be cleverer if he got into a hole drilled in the wall. The devil got in, and the man hammered a rowan plug into it

However, even if Lithuanian devil likes bogs, swamps, marshes, and puddles, it is believed he actually lives under stumps or rocks. He loves to sit on large stones, and boulders too.

More than 150 boulders with footprints are known in Lithuania, and it is believed that more than half of them belong to the devil.

One can find the Lithuanian devil at mills or crossroads as well, especially if one calls his name at night or whistles.

Besides the instructions on how to invite the devil, Devils’ Museum teaches its visitors also how to defend themselves from the spell-binds or how to make the elixir of youth that sent many witches (devil’s brides) into flames during the Inquisition times. Yes, there is an actual recipe on the wall!

The shape of the devil

So now that you know you have to come to the crossroads at midnight, say “Our Father” backward and whistle for the devil to arrive, will you actually recognize him?

Lithuanian tales tell us that he could appear as a horse, a pig, a ram, or a goat. He could also appear as a man.

The devil could manifest himself as a nobleman, a hunter, a priest, or a German.

He may be dressed in black and red, but also in green.

The devil could appear as a shoemaker, a musician, or a blacksmith.

He may be young or old. But if he is young, he will be extremely handsome.

What are Stalin and Hitler doing in Devils’ Museum?

The power of the devil is obviously very seductive. Two horned devils in Kaunas Devil Museum are easily identifiable and attract visitors’ attention.

In 1975, the artist Kazys Dereškevičius created a sculpture representing the historic figures of Stalin and Hitler, but with devil’s horns protruding through their foreheads.

The artwork “My Lithuania” shows two dictators running over a mountain of human skulls.

The artist was referring to the events between 1939 and 1941 when Lithuania and other Eastern European countries were annexed to the Soviet Union. Stalin and Hitler brought pain to innocent people and affected the lives of millions.

Sure, the devil and death are often associated with each other. But the connection between the two has never been as prominent as in the case of the two infamous European executioners.

Devil art in Devils’ Museum – Kaunas must-see

As quite a unique project, Devil Museum should find its place in the ultimate Kaunas must-see list! Not widely known, but still a precious town attraction, this place seduces tourists for more than half of the century.

Even if the pressure from the visitors is not the same as it was in the times when museum space had to go through enlargement, it seems that Devil’s Museum appeal is not dying down easily.

Kaunas already received the European Heritage Label as well as the title of UNESCO City of Design, mainly thanks to the numerous Art Deco buildings they constructed during the interwar.

With the logo of the European Cultural Capital of 2022, Kaunas will orbit itself again into the skies. At least for a year, the fallen angels of Devil Museum of Lithuania might get their wings back.

If you are looking for the most affordable flights to Lithuania, check your options here! For the best accommodation in Kaunas and their latest prices, click here!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Devils’ Museum in Kaunas: The European Capital of Devil Art appeared first on Pipeaway.

As art becomes a trendy thing to talk about mainly if there is some scandal involved, the Selfie Girl, who ran over Saraswati’s artwork just for the photograph, actually made quite a good promotion for the art and its issues.

Professional circles are aware of how Indonesian visitors need education, as this is not the first time the alarm clock went on. So the incident obviously helped new discussions.

However, in social media, instead of aiming the arrows toward the gallery which obviously didn’t organize the exhibition according to the professional standards one would expect from such a famous institution, some Internet bullies directed their anger mainly toward the Selfie Girl.

Like in an unfair box match, this girl not only experienced the lesson she will remember every time she decides to visit art galleries in the future. Her bleeding head continued to be pounded while she was already gasping for air in the middle of the ring floor, in this dangerous underground fight club that social media has become.

There are other places in Asia where selfie taking has gone too far. For instance, during the Kanchanaburi sightseeing.

Selfie Girl: “I am sorry”

“I’m sorry and I regret that my behavior at the gallery was inappropriate, inconsiderate, idiotic, and ignorant”, said the Selfie Girl who contacted Pipeaway after her photos on social media reached the kind of popularity she was certainly not expecting to get.

“That morning, I woke up with a message from my friend sending me the link to your article, asking if it was me in your photos. I was shocked. But what else can I do? I answered her ‘yes’. Do I feel guilty? Very.”

I regret that my behavior at the gallery was inappropriate, inconsiderate, idiotic, and ignorantSelfie Girl

The Selfie Girl wrote me from her personal e-mail, clearly exposing her full name, but in the continuation of this article, I will refer to her as to the Selfie Girl.

I will confirm that in the meantime I blurred her face additionally. Even if Selfie Girl is 22 years old, so certainly not a teen anymore, I felt that further exposing her identity would be the similar kind of rape she practiced in the National Gallery on International Museum Day.

After her apology, her behavior should stay as an example we can discuss, but I don’t think her identity (nominal and visual) is crucial for the issues raised.

Also, the circle of violence doesn’t lead anywhere if we don’t provide ways to exit it.

Figurative language

I feel I have to bring the discussion back on track, as by reading comments on the web, it seems to me that many readers who reacted to the original article, are not used to metaphorical discourse or hyperboles.

The clearest example here is my use of the word rape when referring to what Selfie Girls did that day in the gallery.

Some sensitive person thought I was a moron as I was “equating this to rape”. I didn’t say the Selfie Girls raped the security guard or a little kid that lost his mummy. Raping the artwork does not involve sexual organs – I used the term ‘rape’ in the sense of violating something that cannot give its consent or defend. So if the dictionaries say that rape is not just an unlawful sexual activity, but also define it as “an outrageous violation” (Merriam-Webster), we might say that etymologically there was even no metaphor!

I understand readers have associations with the word ‘rape’ – but that is exactly why I used it. I wasn’t trying to impair the context of the sexual abuse. Hey, I wasn’t even talking about it!

So about what DID I talk?

First of all, what is an idiot? Sure, an idiot is a foolish or stupid person (Merriam-Webster says again). But the original English meaning was “ignorant person”.

Even more important, the idiot is an automatic digital camera without manual functions. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to be able to use the idiot camera – it’s so easy.

I never wanted to call Selfie Girls intellectually disabled! That is why I coined the term ‘instaidiot’, or more specifically – ‘#instaidiot’ (instaidiot with hashtag). It wanted to compress different linguistic tools in describing the phenomenon when the person does ignorant, clueless, or not-thought-through things for the sake of instant Internet fame (such as exposing one’s selfie on the web).

There… I wasn’t really thinking I would be explaining something that had to stay in the domain of figurative language, but when I saw that many comments, which made the original story viral, focused on the real stupidity of the Selfie Girls, I felt the discussion went the wrong way.

There were also some defending the Selfie Girls from my “bullying” attack. But the thing is – nobody went to defend the National Gallery of Indonesia, the only institution my text was about, and the only object of my “bullying” if you want to call it that.

Galleries are responsible for the artwork

The article raised the discussion, but it also enabled many to cross the line. They did the same thing Selfie Girls did but now focused on raping the rapist.

Internet comments questioning Selfie Girls’ intelligence, and origins, or just slapping them with ugly insults, overshadowed the call for the responsibility of the Galeri Nasional, the only official entity towards which the users should have actually focused their rage.

A piece of artwork made of soap was broken in half because some visitor sat on it just to take picturesTasya Nuarta

Some local artists I talked to say that this is not the first time Galeri Nasional is experiencing vandalism by the audience. Supposedly, a number of artworks have been broken during the exhibitions there. It is not an exclusive Galeri Nasional problem, but they should prove they are doing more than they actually do at the moment (exhibition with no guard in sight).

An official from a gallery in Bandung reached out to Pipeaway explaining how their gallery has sitters who are walking throughout the gallery space, but they still experience unfortunate events.

“A piece of artwork made of soap was broken in half because some visitor sat on it just to take pictures”, Tasya Nuarta­ shares.

I strongly advise you to read the comments below the original article, as many interesting thoughts have been shared there.

Does the artist approve of the interaction?

So why the interaction of Selfie Girls with the artwork escalated all the way to touching, manipulating, and treading the artwork?

The key lies in an unclear set of rules displayed by the gallery and the lack of human resources which would make sure the rules are followed.

Some noticed that Monica Hapsari’s work “Antara” had a written encouragement for visitors to sit in the sand and watch the rotating ball as a part of immersing in the artwork. But it certainly didn’t instruct the visitors to enjoy her artwork as the instant photo studio for selfie shots.

There is the interpretation that this permission to sit in Hapsari’s sand might have encouraged visitors to cross the line in front of the other artworks, which didn’t have this kind of instruction.

The Selfie Girl, who reached out to apologize to Pipeaway’s editor, obviously declares her confusion: “I don’t know if apologizing to you is the right thing to do, since it wasn’t you I hurt the most, it’s those artists whose works I walked and jumped over. Hey, it was allowed – there were no white lines!”

Lost in translation

It seems that the most (inter)active visitors are keen to read the instructions. So if they see white lines protecting one work, and not the other, they will come to a conclusion of their own.

Obviously, we cannot leave the responsibility of consuming the art on the piece of white tape on the floor. There will always be people who will not be able to understand the instructions (if they exist). That is why the translator (Figurative language again! Usually a gallery guard) can make sure that the rules are being followed.

The minimal protection of the gallery space would be to print “Please do not touch” signs, where it may happen that visitors could get confused by the display. If the Selfie Girls would have read it in front of Saraswati’s work “I Beg I Promise”, maybe they would have never even thought about running over it.

Some people are there just to bully. For me, it’s just the price that the selfie kid has to pay. It’s hard, but it really sets a good examplelocal artist

One of the local artists I talked to, but who wished to stay anonymous, agrees with the word ‘raping’ when we address these actions. It is escalating out of proportion, and only speaking about it can help us realize how the exhibition standards need improvement.

“Thank you so much for your article that literally saves artists’ work”, he says.

The fact is that the outcome of Pipeaway’s viral article is an increased interest of the audience for the exhibition. Supposedly visitors are queuing just to get inside!

Criticism of the public towards the gallery, as I can hear, has pushed Galeri Nasional to improve its practice. However, we are still waiting for the public statement, as clear and prompt communication with the audience is crucial for crisis management.

Democracy of exchanging opinions in Indonesia could also be improved, as my interlocutor notes: “Here, sadly, a lot of people are quite easily provoked, they tend to have this anger and rage that I don’t know where it is coming from. Pipeaway’s article did a great job of making people aware of this issue, and making that kid finally realize her mistake. But I’m just afraid not all people have educational intentions. Some are there just to bully. For me, it’s just the price that the selfie kid has to pay. It’s hard, but it really sets a good example.”

Snow White lesson: Deleting the selfies

Selfie Girl’s Instagram account is set to private mode. I wondered if any of her selfies got online in the end. Or all the hassle of running over the artwork was in vain.

“I did post some of the pictures/videos taken at the Gallery to my Instagram stories, which mostly showed just the works (well, I admit that, with no intention to disrespect, I joked a bit on the caption). From there, I got feedback from some friends merely asking what and where the event was. I only uploaded one short video of me inside the I. Christianto’s Persepsi installation (the circular mirror), I enclosed the official hashtags, title, and the author’s name in the caption… But I decided to delete it right after I read your article, purely because… I was panicking.“

Some of the other girls whose Instagram selfies were linked at the end of the original article also removed them or changed their Instagram settings to private. One was upset enough to reach out and ask why did we “steal” her picture: “Don’t you know many people judge on my Instagram?” (original quote).

It certainly does seem we are using social networks to reaffirm our position in social circles. We use them to get liked, and not judged.

It is a modern tool of beautifying our personas, both physically, culturally, intellectually… We like this mirror to show better, flawless versions of ourselves. We believe in this social media fairytale, like the queen from the Snow White story. And want to break the mirror if it actually tells us the truth.

Note: The author of the featured illustration is Adhimyr Rifky Rahman Putra (rainbow_capsule on Instagram). Check his other works here. 

The post Picking an Easy Target: #Instabullies Raping the Selfie Girl appeared first on Pipeaway.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, I have even witnessed visitors walking through the galleries with their mobile phones recording the whole experience of looking around. Is it reporting live on Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat? Or is that postponing the pleasure for later viewing? Do we not have time to stop and enjoy the art? Why do we have time to stop in front of the painting and pose for selfies? Why do we have time to retake the photograph, in case our firstly shot facial expression didn’t turn out the way we wanted? Does this kind of behavior raise our social profile of supposed art lovers or art connoisseurs?

You might think this proof of our tragic sadness ends here. But what I witnessed at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia, on the day when museums should be celebrated, was a true escalation of art raping for the sake of our egoistic need for public attention. Even if this surely is not a single example, I was genuinely shocked.

Hunger for likes

Evelyn Huang and Shila Ghaisani have curated 15 young Jakarta artists who have previously participated at EXI(S)T, the mentoring program affirming their presence in the Indonesian art landscape, by showcasing their latest works under the umbrella theme of “Tomorrow As We Know It”. Fransisca Retno was one of these perspective artistic forces; at Galeri Nasional Indonesia she exhibited a very self-explanatory work. The table was set, as for some dinner, with a flower arrangement and a bottle of wine. Yet, on the plates – Instagram photos of the food were served. How do you like your dinner? Actually, the dinner with the Instagram menu can only be loved, not liked; this social network recognizes and counts only hearts! On the walls of the gallery, more Instagram photos with numbered hearts decorated the dining room.

Fransisca Retno literally served Instagram likes as dinner, and this clueless visitor greedily jumped on the hook

The two young girls visiting the gallery on the free-visits day understood they were invited to join this dinner. Even if there was only a chair at the head of the table, even if there were “do not cross” demarcation lines on the floor, one of these two girls decided to, literally, cross the line. She concluded that the chair is meant for her to sit on, and take selfies. So she sat and posed like that in front of her friend’s camera. For probably the same heart-shaped signs of appreciation that Fransisca Retno has served as the main course.

Selfies in interaction with the art

I know, interaction with the art might be the response the artist could have only hoped for. However, there is something substantially wrong when one decides to appropriate decision about the interaction, without the consent or invitation of the author. These two young art-in-social-media lovers entered the next room and lowered the bar of politeness even more.

Ratu R. Saraswati‘s work was named “I Beg I Promise”. The durational performance in which the artist wanted to translate the feeling of burden, self-punishment, helplessness, and hope, left on the floor of the gallery three jute sacks, shredded kapok, and a dress on a hanger. The interactive girl picked up the hanger with the dress as if being in a self-service supermarket. She took off, running over the jute sacks, trying to get the dress to fly as if it was a kite, while her camera-operating friend was shooting the scene. They repeated the jogging over the artwork several times so that they could choose the best moment later. They were not even slightly disturbed by the presence of my clicking camera. I guess they were thinking “The more, the merrier”? One could never overdo internet fame?

Selfies out of control

To appreciate the art, one needs to look at it from an appropriate distance. Entering the artwork’s space doesn’t allow us to perceive the context. And the context in which these two girls readily jumped in was very clear. The artist even wrote it on the wall if they would have wanted to read it: our beliefs in the existence of sin, guilt, and shame affect our seeing of the self-image. Those feelings can influence our ability to stop actions that are contrary to moral and civilized, explained Saraswati.

The thing is that our selfies-driven interaction with the art that never asked us for such a response doesn’t only make us look stupid. It actually confirms we are. Otherwise, we would do the wrong thing and hide the evidence, and not promote it on social media.

Lines should not be crossed

Monica Hapsari‘s work “Antara” was also provoking the interaction (when using the word ‘provoke’, we should immediately remind ourselves of the rapists defending their actions with arguments of how the raped girl dressed provocatively). The big black sphere was rotating on the top of the pyramid, placed in the corner of the room. The rectangular carpet of sand was covering the floor, with concentrating circles drawn in the sand. Probably the first visitor’s foot that crossed the line invited others to follow in his/her footsteps. The sand rings were now only looming. The interactive girl stepped courageously from sandless to a sandfull area, put her sunglasses on, sat down, and posed as if she was on the beach.

We can witness this kind of brainless behavior invading many world museums and galleries, or cultural spaces in general. Art is becoming merely a decorative background of the truly remarkable content: our own image. If we didn’t record ourselves, our selfies, in front of the “Mona Lisa”, it is as if we have never been in front of it! Likes and loves and pins prove our existence; they comfort our experiences. Without our selfies, we are not ourselves.

Selfies in the shadow of small and busy personnel

I was curious about Galeri Nasional’s intentions for this exhibition – was I missing something? These were clearly not the only visitors crossing the lines of artwork and good manners. The only official person working in this part of the complex was a young man at the entrance who was making sure that all visitors leave their bags there.

“No, it is not allowed to touch those artworks“, he answered my question and added: “I think.” The instructions on how to treat the art are not clear even to the gallery’s employees! “There had to be another colleague of mine here, but he couldn’t come today…”, the young man started to apologize, as if I was trying to find the guilty person. I stopped his excuse delivering and explained how I only wish to understand the gallery’s policy, which results in the actions I find shocking.

What is the purpose of NOT being allowed to take your bag in the gallery? If on the other hand, you can walk over the artwork, jump on it, dance with it, handle it in any way you can think of?

Counterproductive restrictions of the old age

Obviously, many galleries have completely outdated restrictions. I am telling you: what is the purpose of NOT being allowed to take your bag inside? If on the other hand, you can walk over the artwork, jump on it, dance with it, handle it in any way you can think of? The dress from Saraswati’s work you could even put on and leave the gallery dressed in the art piece! But bags are being demonized?! What is the purpose of the restriction for not using flash photography in the gallery, if all other kinds of photography are allowed?!

It seems to me as if the restrictions we blindly follow were once printed on the entrance doors of our institutions, and now we actually believe that bringing a bag, French fries, or an ice cream inside the gallery is the most probable way of making the damage. Damage is always the product of unavoidable circumstances or human behavior. This means we should be applying common sense, and instead of requesting our rare personnel to guard the visitors’ bags, relocate them to sit in the galleries and secure the artworks from ever-growing social media aggression, led by selfies.

Flood in the shadow of the selfies

Finally, I would like to add that it was I who first noticed the big puddle of water in between the artworks on the first floor and informed the staff. The broken air conditioning system created the little lake two meters wide, without any personnel noticing it. I guess they were all occupied by protecting the artworks from the dangerous attacks of bags and purses.

If you are interested in the follow-up on this story, read Picking the Easy Target: #Instabullies Raping the Selfie Girl. In an exclusive statement to Pipeaway, Selfie Girl apologizes for her behavior. 

The post Stupid Selfies: #Instaidiots Raping Art Galleries appeared first on Pipeaway.