Viral Fame Turns Prague Book Sculpture Into Tourist Magnet
At Prague’s Municipal Library, a swirling column of books has become an unlikely tourist attraction. The sculpture, titled “Idiom,” was created by Slovak artist Matej Kren using about 8,000 hardback books stacked into a towering cylinder. A teardrop-shaped opening allows visitors to peer inside, while mirrors fixed at the top and bottom transform the view into an optical illusion ? a tunnel of books that appears to stretch endlessly.
Before becoming a fixture in Prague, “Idiom” circulated widely in the art world. It debuted at the Sao Paulo International Biennial in 1995, appeared in Prague the following year, and was later exhibited for a summer at the Ji?i ?vestka Gallery. The gallery, once a communist-era warehouse for banned books, provided a fitting backdrop before the sculpture moved to its permanent home at the Prague Municipal Library in 1998.
For years, the installation remained a quiet curiosity noticed mainly by regular patrons. That changed in 2022, when BookTok ? a corner of TikTok devoted to books and reading ? propelled the sculpture to viral fame. During peak periods, such as Christmas and Easter, the installation can draw about 1,000 visitors a day, with waits stretching to two hours. Some library users returning books have found themselves stuck in line.
To manage the crowds, the library has created a separate entrance for tourists and is considering charging an admission fee. Kren has said he never intended “Idiom” to be a mass spectacle. Its power lies in a brief, quiet moment of wonder. However, viral attention has turned the display into a daily bottleneck, undermining its original intent.
May For The Teen Times teen/1770600610/1613367697
1. Who created the book sculpture titled Idiom in the Prague Library?
2. What transforms the view into an optical illusion inside the tunnel?
3. When did BookTok help turn the installation into a viral sensation?
4. Why is the library now considering charging an admission fee?
1. Should libraries prioritize quiet study areas or popular tourist attractions?
2. How does social media change our experience of art and museums?
3. Is it fair to charge fees to manage crowds at libraries?
4. What makes a simple object like a book become a spectacle?
At Prague’s Municipal Library, a swirling column of books has become an unlikely tourist attraction. The sculpture, titled “Idiom,” was created by Slovak artist Matej Kren using about 8,000 hardback books stacked into a towering cylinder. A teardrop-shaped opening allows visitors to peer inside, while mirrors fixed at the top and bottom transform the view into an optical illusion ? a tunnel of books that appears to stretch endlessly.
For years, the installation remained a quiet curiosity noticed mainly by regular patrons. That changed in 2022, when BookTok ? a corner of TikTok devoted to books and reading ? propelled the sculpture to viral fame. During peak periods, such as Christmas and Easter, the installation can draw about 1,000 visitors a day, with waits stretching to two hours. Some library users returning books have found themselves stuck in line.
