The sculpture that the art student cut was graffiti sprayed by someone

Vratěnín - The border fortress in Vratěnín in the Znojmo region, which was modified by a student from the Brno University of Technology as part of an artistic project, has been sprayed. "This bunker was destroyed by Ondřej Bělica," is written in the area of the cut made by the student using diamond wire.

An address of the website of the political-philosophical movement First Republic has also been added to the bunker, which the Czech News Agency is investigating. The police have not yet received any report regarding the spraying of the bunker, said spokesperson Kamila Haraštová.

In recent days, student Bělica cut off part of the concrete bunker and opened a view from inside to the landscape. This action provoked much negative reaction on social networks and drew the attention of the media and locals to the bunker. According to the Czech News Agency correspondent, people stop by the bunker behind the village or at least look out of their car windows.

Bělica has been supported by the Brno University of Technology, where he studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts. According to the school's statement, this action may be unusual in the eyes of the public; however, it does not go against the values of Czech history. "On the contrary, its aim was to highlight the heritage of military history and the technical execution of buildings associated with it," the school stated in a statement.

When contacted by the Czech News Agency, Bělica referred to the school's statement. The student reportedly wanted to draw attention to the situation where former military bunkers are sold off by the Czech Army as unnecessary property, while also showing one of the possibilities for using a "řopík" in the landscape. He was inspired by post-war artists who focused on so-called land art. He acted with the knowledge and consent of the property owner.

The mayor of Vratěnín, Martin Kincl, distanced himself from the project, claiming he only learned about it when two-thirds of the bunker had already been cut off. It was necessary to notify the building authority in Vranov nad Dyjí to investigate whether the project violated building legislation.

"The reaction to this project confirms to me that it should have been consulted with the broader public well in advance and their opinion taken into account," Kincl stated in a statement published on the municipality's website.