Klícová socha (Key Sculpture)

Klícová socha (Key Sculpture)

"The Key Sculpture (Klícová socha) represents a personal polemic on development within the Czech Republic in the last 20 years.  Of course, it’s neither a celebratory monument nor simply a critical piece. The sculpture expresses the ambivalence  I feel when I look at present-day society and politics..." (Jirí David, artist)

This interesting 6-meter tall sculpture stands in Franz Kafka Square just off Old Town Square, and consists of 85,741 keys that were brought by the public to Vodaphone branches throughout the Czech Republic, thus creating the largest collection of keys in the world!

Designed and built by Jirí David, this impressive work of art was unveiled o March 9, 2010.  The sculpture symbolizes the 20 years that have passed since the Velvet Revolution.  Keys were picked as the main theme because jangling keys were the symbol of pro-democratic rallies, organized by Vaclav Havel, in 1989.  The sculpture spells the word "Revoluce " (Revolution).  There has been some controversy regarding Jirí David's key sculpture because the work was sponsored by Vodaphone, an international telecommunications company - money from an international company for a national symbol raised some questions in the Czech Republic.

 The artist, Jirí David, is the most influential Czech artist of the last 20 years.  With their free use of signs and political symbols, his paintings distinctly shaped the post-modern program at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s when he also began working with installations and written texts reflecting the position of the artist and art in society.

My favorite piece of Jirí David's work is an installation entitled "Heart on Castle" because it reflects how I feel about Prague.  Anyone care to surprise me with it as a gift? 

"Heart on Castle" by Jirí David