A sculpture depicting Count Pál Teleki was erected on November 4, 2020 at the Provincial Public Library in Krakow, Poland. This two-time prime minister of Hungary in Poland is remembered primarily for his assistance to Poland during the Polish-Soviet War and later in 1939. But does the city need another monument?
The list of Krakow monuments is getting longer and longer. Monuments of varying artistic quality are being created. Cracow has been suffering from so-called monumentiasis for years. In this case, however, the question is: perhaps the forms of commemoration should be diversified?
new monument
Teleki 's monument was created thanks to the cooperation of the Marshal's Office of the Malopolska Region and the Malopolska Regional Assembly, the Provincial Public Library in Krakow and the IPN Branch in Krakow. The monument was initiated by the Social Committee for the Construction of the Pál Teleki Monument in Cracow. The author of the sculpture is Prof. Stefan Dousa. Its unveiling was planned for November 9 - 10, but the event was postponed due to the epidemiological situation. The unveiling of the monument was also to be accompanied by an exhibition entitled "Pál Teleki and Poland," prepared by the Hungarian National Archives and the Archives in Segedin and made available in Poland by the Krakow IPN.
installation of the monument
© IPN Krakow
premeir of Hungary
Teleki served as prime minister twice, in 1920-1921 and 1939-1941. During the Polish-Bolshevik War, he provided shipments of ammunition and military equipment that the Polish Army received from the Hungarian government. He also denied Hitler's participation in the armed aggression against Poland in 1939 and received Polish soldiers and civilians into the country. During his first term in office in 1921, Numerus Clausus was introduced in Hungary, which placed restrictions on universities in terms of admitting Jewish students at 6%.
monument detail
© IPN Krakow
pomnikoza
The question of commemorating Pal Tekieli should be left to historians. From the point of view of architecture and public space, the question of the form of commemoration is legitimate. After all, monuments are becoming a favorite method used by various social groups. However, it should be remembered that this is not the only formula. Forms of urban greenery, cultural or sports events scholarships, exhibitions, or competitions are also formulas through which figures and events can be commemorated.
