Statue of Věra Čáslavská Audio guide

Contemporary art in public space

The statue of Věra Čáslavská is a striking kinetic sculpture made of stainless steel, created by David Černý as a tribute to the seven-time Olympic champion and one of the most prominent figures in Czech sport. The work was first unveiled in 2024 in Paris near the Czech House during the Summer Olympic Games and then moved to Prague.

In Prague's Újezd, it stands in front of Tyršův dům, the headquarters of the Czech Sokol Community. This location is no accident, because Věra Čáslavská had a strong connection to the Sokol environment and to this place. The statue therefore links a modern artistic language with the memory of Czech sport and civic tradition.

A technically demanding sculpture

The work measures more than 9 meters, weighs 7.5 tons, and is powered by electric servomotors controlled by a complex system. Three colored figures in the colors of the Czech tricolor slowly rotate around several axes and are based on gymnast positions by Věra Čáslavská documented in photographs. The statue is designed to withstand the weather and long-term operation in public space.

Alongside its sporting legacy, it also recalls the moral dimension of her personality. In the context of the place and the time, it feels like a contemporary reminder of how public art can work with historical memory without pathos and without monumental distance.