Silent Stories#4

Statues have a way of finding me. I don't set out to photograph them, yet they appear—in plazas, gardens, and street corners—each with its own silent story. Some are famous, others almost forgotten, but all of them invite a pause. Perhaps they fascinate me because public statues are relatively uncommon back home in Malaysia, so every encounter feels like discovering a small piece of another culture. What began as a simple fascination has become a journey of discovering the stories hidden within these silent works of art. 

Here’s another encounter in my Silent Stories series — statues that found me.

The Statue of Petrica Kerempuh is a famous bronze monument located in Zagreb, Croatia, specifically at the top of the stairs leading to the vibrant Dolac Market.

Created by the renowned Croatian sculptor Vanja Radauš in 1955 (and erected in 1973), the sculpture is titled Petrica i Galženjaki (Petrica and the Gallows-birds). It depicts a cynical, rebellious ballad-singer playing a lute beneath a hanged man, serving as a powerful symbol of folk resistance and political satire.

Key Facts & Location

• Location: Dolac 8, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia (just above the main Dolac Market)
• Artist: Vanja Radauš
• Hours: Open 24 hours (Outdoor public monument)
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance

Who is Petrica Kerempuh?

• Folk Hero: He is a fictional, Robin Hood-like character from northern Croatian folklore.
• Traits: Known as a cynical, witty, and clever peasant who travels the world exposing the greed of the upper classes and mocking authority.
• Literary Fame: His legend was immortalized by the famous Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža in his 1936 masterpiece collection of poems, The Ballads of Petrica Kerempuh.