Dressed in his signature raincoat and hat, Paddington Bear sits atop another famous bear. He is perched on the bear from Masha and the Bear. This whimsical scene can be found on Medve utca. Appropriately enough, it is named Bear Street. We are standing before Paddington és a medve miniszobor.
This miniature sculpture is the work of guerilla sculptor Mihály Kolodko. Kolodko is known for surprising the city with new pieces. He placed this one over the holidays. It features not one but two iconic cartoon bears.
You might have seen Winnie-the-Pooh or Yoda around Budapest. Maybe you have spotted Queen Elizabeth II. All are tiny statues thanks to Kolodko. This latest creation is in Buda. Paddington és a medve miniszobor is on Medve utca in the II. district.
Paddington is dressed in his signature raincoat and hat. He sits on top of the bear from Masha and the Bear. Masha and the Bear is a Russian animated series. It is loosely based on a Russian folk tale. Paddington Bear is the marmalade-loving character. A British author created him. He first appeared in the 1958 book A Bear Called Paddington.
Interestingly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced Paddington. He did so in the Ukrainian dubs of both Paddington and Paddington 2. The bear from Masha and the Bear symbolizes Russia. Paddington sits on his belly. He firmly grips him on his sensitive spot.
Kolodko’s mini statues are a fun way to explore Budapest. He was born in Uzhhorod in Ukraine. He graduated from Lviv Academy of Arts. He decided to devote his work solely to miniatures in 2010.
Kolodko found that the minis gave him freedom. He could make exactly what he wanted quickly. Some hark back to Hungarian media. Others commemorate great Hungarians. There is even some wry political commentary.
Most are guerilla sculptures. Especially the earlier ones. However, there have been commissions recently. The statues are first carved from modeling clay. From this, a negative mold is made. A plaster cast follows. Another mold is made from that. It is then filled with liquid bronze. Once the metal has cooled, it is sanded and polished. It is shaped until you get the finished product.
The sculptures can be found across the city. They are hidden away in nooks and crannies. They are on either side of the Danube.
There are Kolodko statues outside Budapest. There are plenty in cities around Ukraine. Kolodko’s hometown of Uzhhorod is full of them. Here in Hungary, you can find minis at Lake Balaton. There is even a Kolodko in Sweden. Alfred Nobel is outside the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm.
So keep your eyes peeled. You never know what you might find. The Paddington és a medve miniszobor adds a touch of whimsy to Bear Street. It reminds us that art can be found in the most unexpected places.