Anglo-American University in Prague Vernissage by Barbora Vovsová “Totem”
Join us in the AAU Courtyard on October 8 for the vernissage of Totem (maple wood, 2023) by renowned Czech sculptor Barbora Vovsová. We are thrilled to announce that this striking artwork will be installed on campus for the entire upcoming academic year!
Come celebrate the intersection of contemporary art, nature, and community with fellow students, faculty, and staff!
About the Artwork & Artist
The sculptor Barbora Vovsová is interested in the structures of materials and living things, which she seeks to explore and reconstruct through her work. Barbora’s sculptures often consist of tiny particles, from which she creates new, more complex forms, such as clusters of crystals. She is drawn to organic materials like wax and wood, but she also works with concrete. She views the sculptural process of working with material as akin to what occurs in nature—growth, accumulation, proliferation, and recycling. The artist has also long worked with ornaments and symbols that stem partly from her own imagination, but also from nature and folk culture. It is not important to her what lies at the origin of individual themes or where a specific pattern comes from, because, as she says herself, the majority of primary symbols, ornaments, and rituals have constantly repeated and recurred throughout human
history in various forms.
The sculpture Totem, which Barbora Vovsová originally created for an exhibition in the city park in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, also incorporates motifs in its structure that symbolize growth, fertility, and abundance. The motif of the sun is also essential, as it is strongly present in the symbolism of local folk traditions. In the outdoor setting of the Botanical Garden, the sculpture enters into a dialogue with the surrounding grown trees and the natural environment, while also symbolizing humanity’s need to make sense of and interpret the world around us.
Enjoy light refreshments, connect with the AAU community, and help us welcome this amazing year-long addition to our shared space!
Photo credit: Společnost Jindřicha Chalupeckého
Never miss an event by adding it to your calendar!
- On your phone or tablet, open the Calendar app.
- Tap Create Event.
- Enter the info about your event. When you enter more details like location or date, you find suggestions.
- Tap Done.
- Optional: If you want to change which calendar you add an event to, go to the top and tap the calendar name.