A City of (Anti-)Heroes

"A City of (Anti-)Heroes" is a scholarly book that addresses the political aspects of public art in Budapest, Hungary. It examines the various socio-spatial consequences arising from the practices of erecting and placing (anti-)heroes within urban spaces. The author, Júlia Székely, develops a model that encompasses the categories of official, personal, and commercial to reflect the fundamental differences between public and private perspectives. However, these categories are not rigid; they exhibit a dual tendency that considers both national and global levels, as well as the tensions between politics and commerce. By applying theories for interpreting public spaces and the accessibility of art, new connections and separations become visible, expanding the discussion about the role of art in the urban context.