A Soviet tank painted neon pink in central Prague launched the career of David Černý in 1991. The act of civil disobedience resulted in a brief arrest, establishing a trajectory marked by public art that challenges political sensitivities and traditional aesthetics. Based in the Czech Republic, his work frequently utilizes mechanical elements and bold, often controversial, visual statements.
Academic Foundation and Early Training
Born in 1967 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Černý pursued formal training at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, where he studied at the Kurt Gebauer Studio from 1988 until 1994. His international experience includes a 1991 residency in Boswil, Switzerland, followed by a period in New York at the PSI artists residency between 1994 and 1995. He continued his studies at the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program in 1995 and 1996, later receiving a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant.
Public Works and Provocation
Černý’s sculptures often integrate with the urban environment of Prague. His series of cast infant figures, titled Tower Babies, were attached to the Žižkov Television Tower in 2000. He created a rotating kinetic sculpture of the Head of Franz Kafka in 2014, similar to his earlier METALmorphosis installation in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2012, for the London Summer Olympics, he designed a double-decker bus named London Booster that featured mechanical arms capable of performing push-ups.
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Take the IQ test →The Entropa Controversy
In the first half of 2009, during the Czech presidency of the Council of the European Union, Černý unveiled Entropa. The project was intended to be a collaborative effort between artists from each member state, but it was revealed to be a solo creation by Černý and two friends. The installation drew significant criticism from various European governments due to its stereotypical depictions of member nations, notably the illustration of Bulgaria as a collection of squat toilets.
Exhibitions and Institutional Recognition
His work has appeared in various international settings, including the second Prague Biennale in 2005, where he presented Shark, an image of Saddam Hussein submerged in formaldehyde. The piece faced censorship and was removed from exhibitions in Belgium, Poland, and Germany. In April 2023, he established his own permanent exhibition space in Prague's Smíchov district, known as the Musoleum. His contributions to the art field were recognized in 2000 with the Jindřich Chalupecký Award.
Recent Installations
On 19 May 2024, two butterfly sculptures were unveiled on the facade of the Máj Národní building in Prague to honor Czechoslovak fighter pilots who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. The project includes 359 silhouettes of fighter planes embedded in the pavement in front of the building. This installation, commissioned by AMADEUS Real Estate, functions as a thematic contrast between the peace represented by the butterflies and the war signified by the Spitfire.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Prague
- Primary Field: Sculpture
- Notable Work: Entropa
- Notable Work: Head of Franz Kafka
- Notable Work: Horse
- Notable Work: Golem
- Award: Jindřich Chalupecký Award
- Gallery: Musoleum
Questions readers ask
Where can David Černý's work be seen?
His pieces are located throughout Prague and within his own museum, the Musoleum, located in the Smíchov district.
Is David Černý a member of any artistic group?
He is a member of Black n' Arch.
Achievements
- Notable work: Horse
- Notable work: Golem
- Notable work: Head of Franz Kafka
- Notable work: Entropa
