Keeping it real

Walking down the street in Györ, I came across what I took to be a challenging and witty piece of public sculpture. Thoughts about the progressive attitude of Mitteleuropean municipal bodies towards contemporary installation art instantly flittered through my head.

I looked closer, however, and realised that we were not solidifying metaphors for the purposes of art but for those of Love and Real Life.

The heart is composed of hundreds of small padlocks onto which the names of lovers are inscribed. As far as I could tell, these locks weren’t being shackled onto a sickly pink chain in any kind of ironic fashion. I felt like I was back in Verona. The keys have been turned on an unbreakable contract and chucked into the river, kind of like a more comfortable chastity belt. How romantic! This padlock symbolises our relationship? Lock it in, Eddie! Cynical, moi?

And thus we see, true love conquers all! Except maybe bolt-cutters.