"DESTINIES CAST IN METAL" THE WORKS OF IMRE VARGA AND TAMÁS VARGA
- TIME GOES BY, Imre Varga, Hospital Park, 1971, bronze
- PROFESSOR, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1977, bronze
The work by Imre Varga commemorates scientist István Hatvani (1718-1786), who was a teacher at the College of Debrecen, so the first copy of the statue is in Debrecen. Another copy of Imre Varga's statue is in the Middelheim Museum in Belgium. István Hatvani is also mentioned in the works of János Arany and Mór Jókai (The Hungarian Faust).
The professor's book is decorated with hearts.
- COPERNICUS, Imre Varga, Lobby Imre Kálmán Cultural Centre, 1973, bronze
- WAITING (WITH UMBRELLAS), Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1985/2003 bronze
The work was inspired by Imre Varga's visit to Paris. The four-part composition depicts prostitutes waiting helplessly for their clients in the snowy Parisian rain. The work was exhibited near the Louvre in Paris at the time of its completion and has since returned home to adorn the Main Square of Óbuda. The artist made a second copy of the composition, which has been on display in our city since 2003.
Four people are waiting on the Main Square. One of the umbrella-holding figures has buttoned shoes.
- BIRTH OF VENUS, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1988, bronze, chrome steel
- MEMENTO FOR THE SECOND HUNGARIAN ARMY 1944 (HERO'S MEMORIAL), Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1978/2003 chrome steel
Imre Varga participated as a flight officer in the frontal battles of the Second World War. He saw the traces of the Second Hungarian Army from his plane. He poured his traumatic memories into sculpture when he created his monument to the heroes. The figures of soldiers without heads, legs or arms march home, hopeless and sick.
The group of statues on the Main Square in Siófok symbolises the tragedy of the Hungarian troops in Voronezh. The medals are an ironic sign that the heroes are victims.
- FERENC RAKÓCZI II, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1998, bronze, chrome steel
- ISTVÁN SZÉCHENYI, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 2011, bronze, chrome steel
Imre Varga's sculpture of István Széchenyi was placed on the Main sqare in 2011. István Széchenyi played a major role in the launching of steamship navigation on Lake Balaton and became the hereditary president of the Balaton Steamship Company, founded in 1846. In the same year, the Kisfaludy, the first paddle-wheel steamer on Lake Balaton, was launched in Balatonfüred. Imre Varga's bronze and chrome-steel sculpture depicts the man standing on the Kisfaludy steamboat, with the water of Lake Balaton symbolised by the pool and fountain surrounding the work. The positioning of Széchenyi's figure is also symbolic as he looks towards the harbour expressing his commitment to navigation.
The monument depicts Széchenyi at the helm of a stylised ship.
- LA CHAROGNE, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1989, bronze, chrome steel
- BÉLA CZÓBEL, Imre Varga, Fő tér, 1977, bronze
- MARTYRS (FRAGMENT), Imre Varga, Millennium Park, 1996, bronze
Imre Varga's sculpture was originally located in Kaposvár and commemorated the victims of the reprisals after the fall of the Soviet Republic. The original group of seven statues was transferred to Siófok after the fall of communism, where the three remaining statues and the fourth statue, recast by Imre Varga, were erected.
The statues depict citizens of Siófok, including the artist's father, Imre Varga, in military uniform.
- WELL OF TEARS, Tamás Varga, Millennium Park, 2006
- IMRE KÁLMÁN, Imre Varga, Millennium Park, Music Pavilion, 1997, bronze, chrome steel
This work is a special meeting of two renowned natives of Siófok. Imre Kálmán, the operetta king, is depicted in a distinctive bronze and chrome steel work by sculptor Imre Varga.
Imre Kálmán was born on 24 October 1882, in Siófok, and became world-famous making the citizens of Siófok proud. His most famous operettas are: Autumn Manoeuvres; The Gypsy Band Leaders; The Gypsy Princess; The Yankee Princess; Countess Maritza; The Circus Princess; A Kiss in Spring.
Imre Varga, sculptor, portrays the composer as a peaceful, friendly old gentleman sitting in an armchair. The interior design of the work creates a cosy, homely atmosphere in the music pavilion. The visitor will feel as if he has entered a room as a guest of Imre Kálmán. The statue was unveiled on 17 May 1997.
A seated statue of Imre Kálmán awaits those who wish to take a photo with him in the music pavilion in Millennium Park.
- BÉLA BARTÓK, Imre Varga, Szent Miklós Park, 2004, bronze, chrome steel
- GYULA KRÚDY, Imre Varga, Jókai Park, 2005, bronze, chrome steel
- THE ARTIST OF THE NATION, IMRE VARGA, Varga Tamás, Rózsakert, 2021
- FRIGYES KARINTHY, Tamás Varga, Isztria sétány, 1998
- BUST of KRÚDY, Imre Varga, Koch Róbert utca 8, 2004, bronze
- ST. FLORIAN, Imre Varga, Fire Department Park, 1991, bronze
- CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, Imre Varga, Szépvölgyi út cemetery, 1999, chrome steel, iron, bronze
- SICLE MADONNA, Imre Varga, Garden of the Church St. Kilit, Siófok-Kiliti, 2004, bronze
- MIHÁLY KÁROLYI, Imre Varga, Végh Ignác tér, 1975, bronze
- RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, Tamás Varga, Darnay tér (Holy Cross Church), 2004, bronze
„DOWNTOWN WALK”
- TACTILE MAP, Pál Farkas, Fő tér, 2020, bronze, granite
- IMRE KÁLMÁN, Gyula Meszes Tóth, Fő tér, 1961
- JÓZSEF BESZÉDES, Tamás Vigh, Fő tér, 1963, bronze
- THE VIRGIN MARY, József Kling, Fő utca 57, 1991, artificial stone
- MEMORIAL OF WORLD WAR I., Károly Székely, Fő tér, 1925, artificial stone
- MEMORIAL OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, Sándor Kiss - György Vadász, Millennium Park, 1994, marble, granite
- WOMAN IN THE SHOWER, István Martsa, Millennium Park, 1961, limestone
- WELL OF TEARS, Tamás Varga, Millennium Park, 2006
Sculptor Tamás Varga's work was unveiled in Millennium Park to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution. At the centre of the memorial is a woman in tears, a reminder that after the tragic events of half a century ago, moral commemoration was forbidden, and even crying was not allowed.
It bears the Latin inscription SUNT LACRIMAE RERUM, (even – inanimate - things have tears), from Virgil.
- MEMORIAL OF ANDRÁS SZAPUDI, Gergely Horváth, Hock János köz, 2016, wood, metal
- PENSIVE GIRL, Erika Ligeti, Hock János köz, 1964, limestone
- 1848 MEMORIAL, Március 15. Park, 1948, sandstone
- HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL, István Zalubel, Széchenyi utca 4 (in closed courtyard), 2014, chrome steel, marble
- WORLD DAY OF WATER, József Mester Nagy, Tanácsház utca 7, 1999, wood
- BOY HOLDING A PEBBLE, Péter Csíkvári, Fő utca (bus station) 1983, bronze
- IN MEMORY OF COUNT ISTVÁN SZÉCHENYI, Széchenyi utca, 2021, limestone, marble, metal
- THE CYCLING GIRL, György Fürtös, Mártírok útja, 1990, pyrogranite
- SUNDIAL, Millennium Park, 1995, aluminium, marble
„FOR ART LOVERS”
- CERES GODDESS, Karinthy Frigyes u. 5 (closed courtyard), concrete, masonry
- BIRD WITH FOUNTAIN Judit Bolgár, Petőfi sétány 9 (Beach entrance), 1959, aluminium
- SEAGULLS, István Cseh, Petőfi sétány 9 (Beach entrance), 1964, aluminium
- SUNDIAL, Lajos Barta, Petőfi sétány, 1962, concrete, masonry
- SOLI DEO GLORIA, János Andrássy Kurta, Jókai Park, 1991, artificial stone, homocrete
- THE ARTIST OF THE NATION, IMRE VARGA, Tamás Varga, Rózsakert, 2021
Imre Varga, a native and honorary citizen of Siófok died in 2019. The town council has asked the artist's son, Tamás Varga, to create a sculpture in memory of his father. The work of art, in the unique depiction of the artist, places Imre Varga in the world of Balaton tales and legends, where he can be seen sitting on a bench with the fairy of Lake Balaton. The message of the sculpture is symbolic, as it depicts the artist not in the present, but in eternal time.
The sculpture adorns the Rose Garden. Next to Imre Varga, we can rest on the bench, enjoying the view of the harbour and Lake Balaton. Take a seat next to the artist, take a picture and upload it to your Instagram or Facebook page and use the hashtags #siofok, #ittkezdodikabalaton so we can find it too!
- FRIGYES KARINTHY, Tamás Varga, Isztria sétány, 1998
The writer Frigyes Karinthy loved Siófok very much, returning to the town every summer for decades. He and his family were guests of Vitéz Guesthouse on Batthyány Street, where he died in 1938. The work of sculptor Tamás Varga (Imre Varga's son) has been standing on the Istria promenade since 1998.
It is a favourite selfie spot for tourists, as anyone can sit next to the writer, who is enjoying a relaxing holiday at Lake Balaton, wearing a bathing suit and sitting on a tree branch.
- KÁLMÁN SZÉKELYHÍDI SZEKRÉNYESSY, Béla Bajnok, Rózsakert, 1997, limestone
- FISHERMEN, József Somogyi, Rózsakert, 1971, bronze
- MERMAID OF LAKE BALATON, Tibor Vilt, Rózsakert, 1974, limestone
- THE BENEVOLENT ANGEL OF PEACE, Pyotr Tymofeyevich Stronsky, Harbour, Pier, 2012
- AD ASTRA (Towards the Stars) - Monument to István Horthy, Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl, Port (enclosed area) 1943 (re-erected 2013), marble
- ARCHDUCHESS STEPHANIE, Rita Sörös, Sailing harbour (closed area), 2005, bronze
- SUNSHINE ON LAKE BALATON (URANIA), Miklós Borsos, Vitorlás utca 17, 1960, limestone
- MEMORIAL TO DEZSŐ SZENT-ISTVÁNY, Szigligeti utca, 1934, artificial stone
- THE LYING WOMAN, János Sóváry, Deák Ferenc sétány 12 (in a closed courtyard), 1965, limestone
- NIKÉ (FEMALE TORSO), László Marton, Liszt Ferenc sétány, 1970, limestone
- STANDING WOMAN, Ferenc Alexa, Deák Ferenc sétány 10 (private property), 1965, limestone
- IN THE WIND, Márta Lesenyei, Beszédes sétány 82, 1970, bronze
- THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, Tamás Varga, Darnay tér (Church of the Holy Cross), 2004, bronze
- TRIANON MONUMENT, Ágnes Ripszám - János Ripszám, Béke Park, 2010, chrome steel, concrete, glass, wood
- GIRL BRAIDING HER HAIR, László Péterfy, Siófok Hospital, 1970, limestone
- SNOW PARDUC, Gábor Miklós Szőke, Szekrényessy utca 1, (Kiss Szilárd Sport Hall) 2018, chrome steel
- MARTYR'S LAMENT, István Bors, Kele utca cemetery, 1971, bronze, granite
- UFO, István Marosits, Koch Róbert utca, 1988, concrete, artificial stone
- WIND PLANET, István Marosits, Szépvölgyi út 2 (in the school yard), 1985, chrome steel
- ST. STEPHEN, Siófok-Kiliti, Asztalos utca 3
- CALVARY, Siófok-Kiliti Asztalos utca (St. Kilit Roman Catholic Church), 1855, limestone, STATIONS, Mónika Ágoston-Papp, 2017
