Pumuckl Secretly Appears on Munich Fountain
Munich, August 12 – The mischievous imp Pumuckl, a beloved character in German children’s literature, has secretly made an appearance on the Wittelsbacher Fountain in Munich. A small bronze sculpture of the kobold, complete with a beer mug, adorns the monumental fountain in the city center. The sculpture has reportedly been present for several years and is known and tolerated by the city’s building department, as confirmed upon inquiry following a report by the Munich “Abendzeitung.”
Artist from Hungary Behind the Work
The figure is attributed to the Ukrainian-Hungarian artist Mihály Kolodko, known for his miniature statuettes in various cities. Kolodko previously created a miniature of Albrecht Dürer in the courtyard of Nuremberg’s Tucherschloss Museum. However, unlike the Pumuckl, the Dürer sculpture was officially installed as a gift from Hungary to the city, commemorating the Hungarian roots of the world-renowned Nuremberg Renaissance artist, according to the Nuremberg Museums blog.
Pumuckl and “Thirst”
The Pumuckl sculpture is also featured on Kolodko’s website, titled “Thirst,” a fitting name given the Munich kobold’s historical fondness for beer. A photograph on the site shows the tiny sculpture, only a few centimeters tall, peeking out from the pocket of a Bavarian Lederhose worn by the artist. Kolodko has also shared a video on Instagram, showing the small imp with its potato nose and messy hair perched amidst the rocky landscape of the fountain.
The original Pumuckl character was drawn by artist Barbara von Johnson, and the stories of the kobold’s adventures with master carpenter Eder were penned by Ellis Kaut. The character has also been featured in classic and new television series, as well as several cinema films.
Guerilla Art with a Message
Kolodko is recognized as a guerrilla artist, having left small sculptures in Budapest and other cities. One such work can be found in the amphitheater in Pula, Croatia, depicting a drunken gladiator, titled “In Vino Veritas” (In wine there is truth). Some of his works also carry political messages, such as a small tank with a limp cannon barrel, titled “Ruszik Haza!” (Russians, go home!).
The presence of the Pumuckl sculpture adds a whimsical and unexpected element to Munich’s urban landscape, reflecting Kolodko’s distinctive style of engaging with public spaces through art.
