Planetarium / Planetario (1995)
Welded painted steel, glass / Acero soldado y pintado, vidrio
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Planetarium was created for the Skoda Foundation during its International Sculptor’s Symposium of Welded Metals and was included in a group exhibition of public installations in the city of Plzeň, entitled “Winged Arrow.” It is dedicated to the 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who served as the official imperial astronomer for Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II toward the end of his life. The artist had come across Brahe in the midst of conducting research on the Habsburg Dynasty. There are several allusions to the study of astronomy found in the work. For example, the base of the sculpture is modeled after the body of a telescope. Brahe, known as one of the last major “naked eye” astronomers, did not use the instrument to make his observations, although its advent coincides with his death. In addition, the four metal bars that sit atop the structure are meant to “orbit” the viewer, much like an illusory celestial sphere of the planet, in a rotary motion. It was later installed at the Kozel Castle Gardens.
Planetario fue creado para el Skoda Foundation durante el International Sculptor’s Symposium of Welded Metals y formo parte de una exposicion colectiva de instalaciones publicas en la ciudad de Plzen, titulada „Winged Arrow/ Flecha alada“. Esta dedicado al astronomo Danes del siglo XVI Tycho Brahe, quien sirvio como astronomo imperial oficial del emperador del Sacro Imperio Rodolfo II hacia el final de su vida. El artista se habia encontrado con Brahe en medio de la investigacion sobre la dinastia Habsburgo. Hay varias referencias al estudio de la astronomia que se encuentra en la obra. Por ejemplo, la base de la escul- tura se construye parecido al cuerpo de un telescopio. Brahe, conocido como uno de los ultimos grandes astronomos de „ojo desnudo,” no utilizo el instrumento para hacer sus observaciones, aunque su llegada coincide con su muerte. Ademas, las cuatro barras de metal que se situan encima de la estructura estan destinadas a dar vuelta alrededor del espectador, parecido a una ilusoria esfera celestial del planeta, con un movimiento rotativo. Fue instalado mas tarde en los jardines del castillo de Kozel.
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