Space-Shift
polystyrene, concrete, epoxy and oil paint
Na Sadech / Riegrova (vstup možná z obou stran) – zahrada Jihočeské vědecké knihovny
The work is part of a wider series of experiments called Space-Shift, which deals with the perception of space and its transfer into another context. The principle is that an image of an environment other than the one it physically stands in is painted onto an object shaped like a boulder. A kind of “shifted reflection” arises — the viewer sees on the object a reality that does not belong to the place, which creates an intriguing tension and uncertainty in the space.
The object itself was first designed as a 3D model and then made at full scale from polystyrene with a durable surface finish. The digital image then serves as the template for the final painting. The painting is not entirely sharp but slightly blurred — deliberately disturbing any single reading of the image and reinforcing the overall impression of mutability and illusion.
What the sculpture looks like
The sculpture Space-Shift by Diana Winklerová stands on the lawn in the garden of the South Bohemian Research Library. The object is roughly 60 centimetres high, 110 centimetres long and around 80 centimetres deep. It is made of polystyrene, concrete and epoxy resin, and covered with oil paint.
The sculpture has the shape of a large pebble or a boulder worn smooth by water. It has no sharp edges, corners or flat sides. The whole form is soft and rounded, yet at the same time slightly irregular. Seen from above it resembles an elongated drop or a flattened pear. One end is wider and more voluminous, the other tapers gradually. From the side it reads as a low, substantial mound – broad at the ground and passing upwards into a smooth, gently arched curve.
The sculpture does not stand directly on the grass. It sits a few centimetres above the ground, supported by a short black structure that remains almost invisible. Beneath the object the grass is worn away in places, exposing bare soil.
The whole surface of the sculpture is green, but the colour is not uniform. The surface is smooth and slightly glossy. It moves from a dark, saturated green in the lower areas to a lighter turquoise green at the top. Bright highlights appear in the light. The paint does not hide the artist's hand – brushstrokes and fine transitions between the individual shades are visible in places.
Blurred patches and streaks appear on the green surface. They do not create any particular image. They resemble out-of-focus reflections of the surroundings – light, shadow, grass or plants. Some may evoke clouds. Darker horizontal bands are visible along the sides, running near the bottom of the object. They resemble a shadow or a reflection of the ground. Higher up, lighter irregular patches appear. Some take the form of soft rectangles or ovals. Their edges are blurred, as if the image were slightly out of focus.
The character of the sculpture changes as you walk around it. From one side a smooth, convex surface with minimal detail predominates. From another, the painted patches stand out more strongly – lighter shapes separated by darker bands. Seen from the front, the object may resemble a green boulder with a wide darker shadow along its lower edge. Seen from above, the form reads as calmer and more unified. What comes to the fore is above all its soft, rounded shape.
The sculpture stands in the middle of real greenery – among grass, shrubs and trees. Paths run nearby and there are building façades around it. The green-painted object thus merges with the colouring of its surroundings, while at the same time clearly setting itself apart from them by its smooth artificial surface and softly modelled form.
How to find the sculpture
The garden of the South Bohemian Research Library, České Budějovice – entrances from both Na Sadech and Riegrova streets. The sculpture stands on the lawn but not directly on the grass; underneath it the grass is often worn away, exposing bare soil in places.
