Fountain "Spitting Dictators" is a mysterious art object with a hidden meaning

Fountains are hydraulic structures that carry a decorative load. We can confidently say that fountain design is a special kind of art that offers creators an incredibly wide scope for imagination. Among these gushing creations there are real masterpieces that attract tourists. But there are also fountains that are interesting not for their beauty, but for the originality of the idea. Among them, a worthy place is occupied by the composition "Spitting Leaders" (Spitting Leaders), created by the Spanish sculptor Fernando Sanchez Castillo.

This fountain is more often called "Spitting Dictators", which more accurately describes its idea. For the first time the author presented it to the audience in 2008 at the exhibition of contemporary art in the Dutch Arnhem. Among the visitors, the composition caused a mixed reaction. But the authorities of Arnhem liked it and bought it for the city's Prezikhaaf Park.

It should be clarified that initially Castillo planned to install a fountain in his homeland, in Spain. But he was not allowed to do this, and therefore the "Spitting Dictators" settled in the Netherlands. The composition consists of four figures, three of which are known to everyone. These are Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, and French King Louis XIV.

The fourth figure is not subject to identification, as it has a template, incomplete face. With her, the author was a little bit deceitful. In the announcement of the Arnhem exhibition, it was stated that the fourth bust would represent Adolf Hitler. But the Fuhrer never got into the company of tyrants and the place remains vacant.

There are constant disputes around the mysterious fourth figure. There is an assumption that the sculptor deliberately left it unfinished in order to warm up interest in the fountain. Some see a faceless bust of Bolivian President Jose de Sucre is an oppressor of the Indians and an enemy of the church. Others are sure that the fourth should be the Spanish corrupt king Juan Carlos. There are many other options, including Pinochet, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, Tito and so on. Unfortunately, over the last century alone, there are plenty of "worthy" people standing in the fountain, and the list continues to grow.

Some have a reasonable question — how did the "sun king" Louis end up in the company of two dictators. But those who know that the author of the fountain is a Spaniard explain it simply. Louis XIV remained in history not only as a spendthrift monarch and patron of the arts. He is responsible for the oppression of the Spanish people and the bloody Franco-Dutch war. During the long 72 years of his reign, the king destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives and was one of the main sources of chaos in 17th century Europe.

The main idea that possessed Fernando Sanchez Castillo while working on the composition remains a mystery. What do dictators symbolize when they spray each other with tight jets of water? Maybe it's all a play on words, because most translators interpret the name of the fountain Spitting leaders as "spitting leaders".