The Chalice of the Metallurgist by Erna Masarovičová. (source: Judita Čermáková)
Former East Slovak Ironworks in Košice, today U. S. Steel Košice, wanted to be more visible in the second half of the sixties, and so the firm decided to hold an international symposium on iron.
In late summer, three foreign and two Czechoslovak sculptors usually got an invitation to create works of art in Košice and, at the same time, beautify the city.In late summer, three foreign and two Czechoslovak sculptors usually got an invitation to create works of art in Košice and, at the same time, beautify the city.
Today, Košice still boasts many public space artworks made of iron.
However, during the six years of existence of these symposia, only two female sculptors were invited.
Flower of iron
The very first female sculptor invited was Barbera la Marisa from Rome. She arrived in 1969 and left after two weeks, but what she left behind was just a draft.
Two years later, the Betliar native Erna Masarovičová was asked to join the international symposium. The Slovak artist studied textiles in Budapest and sculpture in Bratislava.
The talented sculptor made two iron pieces in public spaces in Košice.
Slovak artist Erna Masarovičová is considered to be the first Slovak female sculptor. (source: Prvezeny.sk)
One of them is “the Chalice of the Metallurgist” near the Lipa shopping mall. She named the other work “the Flower of the Metallurgist”, which is placed next to the Terasa shopping mall.
Iron Lady
Masarovičová also made figural sculptures and medals, and she became a pioneer of modern jewellery in Slovakia. But the huge iron artworks are unique because the sculptor never made anything similar after the symposium.
For her work with iron, she was dubbed the Iron Lady.
The first Slovak female sculptor passed away in 2008.
© Korzár
Author: Milan Kolcun, Judita Čermáková
