Intentar ORO - Gratis
Rush to see Prague's 'Idiom'
The Citizen
|January 12, 2026
TOWER: MADE OF 8 000 BOOKS TO REPRESENT INFINITY OF LEARNING; TIKTOK DRIVES ITS FAME
-
SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION. Tourists take a selfie in front of the Idiom art installation, made from 8 000 books by Slovak artist Matej Kren, in the foyer of the Central Library in Prague, Czech Republic. Pictures: AFP
(AFP)
Prague has long been a tourism hub thanks to its Baroque architecture and deep cultural history, but its latest draw a statue of thousands of books made famous on TikTok has blindsided officials in the Czech capital.
The Idiom, a statue by Slovak artist Matej Kren, is a cylindrical tower of 8 000 books with a tear-shaped entrance and mirrors at each end, creating the impression of an endless tunnel. Prague's Municipal Library installed it in its entrance hall in 1998, where it quietly sat until three years ago, when it suddenly became a social media hit.
Esta historia es de la edición January 12, 2026 de The Citizen.
Suscríbete a Magzter GOLD para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9000 revistas y periódicos.
¿Ya eres suscriptor? Iniciar sesión
MÁS HISTORIAS DE The Citizen
The Citizen
Rosenior hails 'strong start'
Liam Rosenior (above) hailed “outstanding” Chelsea’s “strong start” to his reign as the new Blues boss savoured a 5-1 rout of Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
1 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
SUPER GIANTS RELIEVED
SA20: DURBAN FRANCHISE STAYS IN THE HUNT AFTER NAIL-BITING VICTORY
2 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
Who pays for cybercrime?
LIABLE: MUST THE BANK COUGH UP OR IS IT THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY?
4 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
First fatality in Oz bushfire
Bushfires have razed hundreds of buildings across southeast Australia, authorities said yesterday, as they confirmed the first death from the disaster.
1 min
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
Deadheads mourn death
US guitarist and songwriter Bob Weir, a founding member of the revolutionary, psychedelic jam band Grateful Dead, has died aged 78, his family announced on Saturday.
1 min
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
History to repeat itself in Iran?
There is mounting excitement in many Western nations - and in the leadership of those countries - about the ongoing and bloody mass protests sweeping across Iran.
1 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
DA slams City Power's 'solar power grab'
The DA is accusing City Power of targeting Johannesburg residents who have installed solar power in their houses.
1 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
Call for independent probe into Sanral tenders
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has called on Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to launch an independent forensic investigation into tender awards by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) - or for parliament's standing committee on public accounts to conduct an inquiry into the roads agency.
1 mins
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
Hurkacz inspires Poland to first title
Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz capped an emotional injury comeback and earned United Cup redemption as he inspired his country to their first title with victory against Switzerland in Sydney yesterday.
1 min
January 12, 2026
The Citizen
Repeated veld fires 'resemble organised sabotage'
Arson is becoming more sophisticated but simple at the same time, said security and explosives mitigation specialist Jimmy Roodt, as concerns grow over veld fires being started with low-tech delayed-ignition devices in rural and agricultural areas.
1 mins
January 12, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size