In a busy shopping center in Prague an eleven-meter-tall sculpture by Czech sculptor David Černý is catching the eyes of shoppers and pedestrians alike. The monumental sculpture, which is known as either Head of Franz Kafka or Statue of Kafka, is comprised of 42 plates of stainless steel which turn and rotate, continually transforming the reflective sculpture. When all 42 of the moving panels align, the steel plates form the face of the famous Czech writer Franz Kafka.
The statue is a marvel of modern technology driven by a motor and a kilometer of cables which rotate independently of one another. The kinetic artwork undergoes various changes and metamorphosis; at times it is obvious it is a face, at others it is not.
The enormous bust of the Czech writer is located at the Quadrio shopping center in the Prague 1 district of Prague, directly above the Národní třída metro station. It was constructed in November 2014 and weighs around 35 tons.
In the video below you can see the reflective sculpture in motion:
Franz of Prague from MEL Films on Vimeo.
In the video below you can learn more about the idea, design, and construction of the work. (The video provides English subtitles for those who do not speak Czech.)
The mirrored sculpture is very similar to David Černý’s statue entitled Metalmorphosis which is located in North Carolina in the United States of America.
David Černý is also the artist who created the Giant Bronze Babies statues which are located in Prague’s Kampa Park. You can find Černý’s work all over Prague. He is known for his controversial and unconventional art pieces.
Spálená 2121/22
110 00 Praha 1-Nové Město
Czech Republic
Video sources: Mel Films and DEIMOS Automation.
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