Installation of Karbol by sculptor Jiří Příhoda at the castle in Bechyně
The sculptural park around the Renaissance castle Bechyně in South Bohemia has welcomed a new exhibition of contemporary art, which includes the work Karbola by the artist Jiří Příhoda. It combines sculpture and architecture; Příhoda was inspired by the simple form of a wooden shed and created something surprising. While the basic structure evokes a familiar shape, Karbola deviates from it with its unusual geometric proportions and a form that seems almost deliberately impractical – it does not provide its visitors with protection from the natural elements. The work Karbola can be seen in the sculptural park of Bechyně Castle until September 29, 2024.
To create the illusionistic effect of the work, Příhoda uses unusual cladding. Unlike a typical shed, the walls are covered with boards with deliberately wider gaps between them. This technique is applied on all sides of the object, creating a fascinating dialogue between light and shadow and blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior space. In Karbola, however, this effect is taken to the extreme, as the gaps are also present on the roof – which means that the construction is unable to provide protection from the rain.
On sunny days, light passes through the gaps in the cladding and casts shadows inside in the shape of geometric patterns. These compositions transform throughout the day, offering visitors a dynamic spectacle. With the arrival of night, Karbola undergoes another transformation. Příhoda hung a park lamp inside the construction, which remained from the installation of another sculptural work. Moreover, he installed it upside down so that the interior of the building bathes in a warm, welcoming glow. This simple act turns Karbola into a giant lantern, inviting passersby to seek refuge in its white, illuminated walls. The surrounding darkened lawn is also interwoven with lines of light that pass through the gaps between the cladding boards.
The title of the work, Karbola, refers to a nearly hundred-year-old technique used to protect rural wooden buildings. This method involves applying used motor oil, usually dark brown or black, to the wood instead of paint. In the case of Karbola, this treatment, combined with the white interior and open gaps, highlights the geometric grid of the construction.
The shape and volume of the entire structure consist of quarter circles. As one walks around, the object has a different shape from each side. Over time and under the influence of the weather, the wood will weather, crack, and warp, and these imperfections will transform the precise geometry of the work's construction into the rustic aesthetics of an ordinary wood shed.
The work Karbola is exhibited as part of the Contemporary Art and Sculptural Park exhibition, which was created in collaboration with curator Nicole Stava and the Italian Gallery Continua. It features five artists, four artistic installations, and two sculptures that address themes such as the absurdity of human existence, reality versus concept, the blurring of boundaries between art and life, or socio-political and cultural issues.
To create the illusionistic effect of the work, Příhoda uses unusual cladding. Unlike a typical shed, the walls are covered with boards with deliberately wider gaps between them. This technique is applied on all sides of the object, creating a fascinating dialogue between light and shadow and blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior space. In Karbola, however, this effect is taken to the extreme, as the gaps are also present on the roof – which means that the construction is unable to provide protection from the rain.
On sunny days, light passes through the gaps in the cladding and casts shadows inside in the shape of geometric patterns. These compositions transform throughout the day, offering visitors a dynamic spectacle. With the arrival of night, Karbola undergoes another transformation. Příhoda hung a park lamp inside the construction, which remained from the installation of another sculptural work. Moreover, he installed it upside down so that the interior of the building bathes in a warm, welcoming glow. This simple act turns Karbola into a giant lantern, inviting passersby to seek refuge in its white, illuminated walls. The surrounding darkened lawn is also interwoven with lines of light that pass through the gaps between the cladding boards.
The title of the work, Karbola, refers to a nearly hundred-year-old technique used to protect rural wooden buildings. This method involves applying used motor oil, usually dark brown or black, to the wood instead of paint. In the case of Karbola, this treatment, combined with the white interior and open gaps, highlights the geometric grid of the construction.
The shape and volume of the entire structure consist of quarter circles. As one walks around, the object has a different shape from each side. Over time and under the influence of the weather, the wood will weather, crack, and warp, and these imperfections will transform the precise geometry of the work's construction into the rustic aesthetics of an ordinary wood shed.
The work Karbola is exhibited as part of the Contemporary Art and Sculptural Park exhibition, which was created in collaboration with curator Nicole Stava and the Italian Gallery Continua. It features five artists, four artistic installations, and two sculptures that address themes such as the absurdity of human existence, reality versus concept, the blurring of boundaries between art and life, or socio-political and cultural issues.
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