Metal Trail

After the Metal Symposium’s first year, the organisers believed that artists would flock there the following year. But that was not the case, and there was still much effort needed before we convinced artists that this event was really worth attending. After a couple of blacksmiths had not responded to our invitation, we approached Pavel Kverek. He agreed to take part, but wanted to work with his son Tomáš. On the one hand, we liked this idea. On the other hand, we considered it a problem, because we had intended to have only one representative from each country. Mr Kverek was probably not aware of our hesitation. Finally, we agreed with his proposal and today are glad that we violated our own rules back then.

Pavel and Tomáš Kverek worked in a welding room of the Secondary Technical School on a statue that was intended to pay homage to Václav Svoboda, a factory owner. Václav Svoboda had a factory in the nearby town of Kosmonosy and produced tractors, among other things. After the communist takeover, the factory was seized and later closed down. The work that both artists created was intended to represent Václav Svoboda himself, together with one of his machines. Mr Kverek was therefore excited to discover one of Svoboda's tractors on the Technical School campus. Svoboda tractors can also be seen at the St. Wenceslas Historical Vehicles Show which takes place every year on 28th September.

The work "When One Says Svoboda" has been installed in the garden of Klaudian Hospital next to the café. You can also admire it through a glass wall in one of the hospital corridors.

Find the artwork on GPS 50.4178217N, 14.9104047E 

For more information on this artist see:

https://pavelkverek.cz/

https://www.facebook.com/tomas.kverek

Přehrát video