Kidney - sculpture for the new Dialysis Center in Třinec

I was first approached by the director of the B. Braun Avitum dialysis center network, Mr. Martin Kunck, in 2023 to create a proposal for a sculpture in front of the Dialysis Center in Třinec.

We thus continued our collaboration 10 years ago, as part of one of the first years of the Sculpture Line sculpture project, organized by the Artlines agency, when I won an internal selection for an artifact in front of the then-completed Prague–Bulovka Dialysis Center with my already finished work.

This time, it was an assignment to create a sculpture in front of the entrance to the building, which would clearly express the character and function of the newly created unique medical facility in artistic form.

In the beginning, I was mainly concerned with the concept of how to grasp the topic visually. I originally went in two directions in my thinking. The first line was an artistic representation of the exchange, which is the essence of the dialysis process, and the second was the kidneys themselves.

This second theme won. Finally, I went even further in my thinking - to depict only one kidney instead of two, because when you have one healthy kidney, it makes a fundamental difference to your quality of life than when both kidneys fail. I also liked the abbreviation that the whole complex medical dialysis device for blood purification exchange is popularly called an artificial kidney.

Personally, this assignment brought to life a new perspective on the kidneys as fascinating organs that we are not particularly interested in in everyday life, as long as they function as they should.

This sculpture is ultimately my creative discovery that the kidney is also beautiful visually.

The architecture of the Dialysis Center is striking with its white purity and austerity of straight technical lines, underlining respect and trust in top-notch medical equipment. My hand-modeled sculpture of a round kidney in bold colors is a small, but unique and therefore distinctive accent that complements it and, I hope, humanizes it a little with its different concept.

The installation and subsequent ceremonial unveiling took place with the lively interest of the Center's employees and management, patients and local media.

Thank you for the wonderful cooperation!