Toiletological Statues
Brussels is a good place to find surrealist art. The two symbols of Belgium are the art of René Magritte (and also see the Trompe l'Oeil Toilet page) and Manniken Pis, the famed Pissing Boy Statue.
Here is Manniken Pis in all his diminutive glory:
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As you can see, he's quite the tourist attraction.
Figuring that if one Peeing Child statue was a good thing, then two Peeing Child statues would be twice as good, a local artist created Jeannike Pis. She is also plumbed for realistic operation, but unlike Mannike Pis, Jeannike Pis is located down at the end of a small dead-end alley and gets few visitors. So, it seems that you don't usually catch her in action.
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The creator of Jeannike Pis seems to be a practitioner of Belgian surrealism. The sign by the fountain says, spelling, grammar, and all:
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This fountain was built in honour of loyalty.
A very old custom has it that your wish be granted if you throw a coin into the bowl of the fountain. The coins thrown by passers-by into the fountain of Jenneke Pis bears witness to Tenderness, Virtue ans Admiration of the loved one with the wish to remain faithful to one another. |
Yes, it really says "ans"...
Well, if two Peeing Child statues are a good thing, then adding a third statue of a peeing dog would be THREE TIMES as good!
And so Zennike Pis was created.
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Like both Mannikin Pis and Jeannike Pis, Zennike Pis is plumbed for realistic operation. But alas, he was not operating on the day I visited...
Finally, Brussels has paired statues of what appear to be vomiting goats. I don't know if they are intended as part of the theme, it's hard to tell with surreal Brussels....
| A Sani-Flush blue border indicates a toilet that I've used. |
If you're not bored yet, you might be interested in (or at least tolerate):
