Hungarian Monument to Jews - Peter Parkanyi Raab

Hungarian Monument to Jews

Peter Parkanyi Raab - Sculptor
2014
Bronze
Freedom Square
Budapest, Hungary

Peter Parkanyi Raab is the sculptor of the controversial monument standing in the midst of Freedom Square in Budapest, Hungary.  After 27 years of producing figurative art, Raab took on a project that was intended to commemorate the half-million Hungarian-Jews murdered during the Holocaust.  The bronze art piece, which was erected in 2014, is centered in front of a colonnade and is placed on a pediment which features the inscription: “Memorial to the victims of the German invasion.” Although the sculptor has chosen not to reveal the reasoning behind the structure of his sculpture, one might think the open space in the pediment is representative of a new beginning.  Often times a painting or some depiction would be featured in a pediment during the Classical, Neoclassical, and Baroque periods.  However, Raab chose to leave his pediment open for interpretation.  The sculpted Archangel Gabriel represents Hungary, while the imperial eagle swooping down above him represents Germany.

Critics claim that the monument portrays the Hungarian nation in a false light, by presenting the Hungarian nation as a blameless victim and basically dismissing them from the dishonorable role they played during the Holocaust.  When the Nazis invaded Hungary they sent half a million Jews to their death, and the Hungarian government made no effort to stop them.  The Hungarian government betrayed its citizens by portraying all Hungarians, including both Jews and the government, as victims of the Nazis.  Raab actively defends his sculpture arguing that its sole purpose was to unify the citizens and government by giving them opportunity to mourn together.  He believes that critics are trying to drive a wedge between the Hungarian government and its people.  The government of Hungary has stated that it will not remove the monument despite the complaints from upset politicians, Jews, and other Hungarian citizens.

This sculpture’s contextualized message would not make sense without the understanding of the history of the Holocaust and its repercussions.  The controversy behind the sculpture would also be unclear to an onlooker without knowledge of the participation of the Hungarian government during World War II.  The message is thoroughly propaganda as its purpose is it to raise equally deserved sympathy for the Hungarian government and the Hungarian Jews through a false representation of history.

Report by Robin Heft - 2015