‘The Six White Mice’

One of Bratislava’s major shopping malls, Eurovea Galleria is a vibrant hangout spot located right by the riverfront promenade of the Danube, boasting many shops and restaurants. Throughout the mall, there are numerous statues of circus performers, a delightful feature often taken as a selfie opportunity but otherwise rarely talked about.

The sculptures were created by English artist Colin Spofforth, several of whose works are publicly showcased in Greater Manchester and Bucharest among others. Based on an original fairytale written by his wife, The Six White Mice tells the story of a magical troupe of circus performers, two brave children, and six white mice revolting against a greedy tyrant.

Twelve of the characters can be found at the Eurovea mall, including the eccentric Ring Master, playful tightrope walker Isabelle, her protective brothers Zip and Zap, stilt-walking Olga and her fire-eating partner Pat, Yulia the trapeze artist, aquaphobic strongman Aric, Teo the handyman, sad clown Pier with his all-seeing magic mirror, flute-playing boy Zac and his sidekick dog Maggie. If you wish to find them all, there is a map on the official site indicating their locations in the mall.