Herd of beasts of prey (Smecka šelem) - Trutnov, Czech Republic
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vraatja
N 50° 33.799 E 015° 54.590
33U E 564439 N 5601661
Seven sculptures of beasts of prey installed aside the new bulding of the theater in Trutnov in 2010. Alhough called by the local citizens as cheetahs, their author describe them as a mixture of more beasts of prey (jaguar,cheetah,leopard and cougar)
Waymark Code: WMTYB8
Location: Královéhradecký kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 01/23/2017
Views: 24
Michal Gabriel is one of the most distinct sculptors from the generation of the turn of the 1980s and 1990s (the Stubborn art group). His mainly figurative sculptures of most diverse materials refer to the sculpture of the Classical Antiquity, at the same time employing post-modern morphology abounding with references and play as well as persiflage. Gabriel first attracted attention in the 1980 at the so-called “Confrontations” [Konfrontace] – one of the few unofficial and prestigious exhibitions held in the Czech Republic in that period. He specialized in anthropomorphic and zoomorphic subjects. The pivot of his oeuvre is man and the issues of human existence, always submitted with a hint of ironic distance. Gabriel often works with myths and archetypes and his works are inhabited by various mythical creatures and symbolical animals.
In 2010 after his exhibition in Trutnov he installed aside the new building of local theater seven bronze scuptures representing herd of beasts of prey. He used his own special technique to imprint into the casted bodies walnut shells. Thus the creatures resemble most of the beasts of prey cheetahs and thus they have been called by the local citizens. Their author insists that they actually represent some kind of mixture of more beasts of prey as jaguar,cheetah,leopard and cougar to express "a feeling of freedom" at these animals.
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Smečka šelem - "Coalition" of Beasts of prey
Figure Type: Animal
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Michal Gabriel
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 2010
Materials used: bronze
Location: aside of the new building of the theater
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