When the roof of St George’s Church in the Czech Republic collapsed during a funeral service in 1968, local residents viewed the event as a bad omen and quickly abandoned the building. The church fell into a disused, abandoned state but this summer artist Jakub Hadrava was assigned the task of reviving the 14th century site. His piece contains hooded ghostly figures which line the church pews.
Since the art piece was added, the church has seen a massive influx in tourist numbers, including visitors from Brazil, the UK and Germany. Donations from the huge surge in visitors has helped cover the costs of the church’s restoration.
Jakub said: ‘I wanted to make the church more attractive for visitors and try to raise some money for renovation work. ‘The figures represent the ghosts of Sudeten Germans who lived in Lukova before World War Two and who came to pray at this church every Sunday. I hope to show the world that this place had a past and it was a normal part of everyday life, but that fate has a huge influence on our lives.’
The ghosts are made out of plaster and fill the pews and the aisle of the church, which was built in 1352.