Kidney – Sculpture Installation in Front of the New Dialysis Centre in Třinec

31. 7. 2025

I was first approached to create a proposal for a sculpture installation in front of the new Dialysis Centre in Třinec by Mr. Martin Kuncek, Director of the B. Braun Avitum network of dialysis centres, already in 2023.

This invitation renewed our collaboration from ten years earlier, during one of the first editions of the Sculpture Line project organized by the Artlines agency. Back then, my completed artwork won an internal competition for a sculpture to be placed in front of the newly finished Dialysis Centre in Prague–Bulovka.

This time, the assignment was to design a sculpture for the entrance area that would, in an artistic way, express the character and purpose of this unique new medical facility.

At the beginning, I focused mainly on the concept and on finding the right visual approach to the theme. My thoughts went in two directions:the first was the artistic interpretation of “exchange,” which is at the heart of the dialysis process,and the second was the form of the kidney itself.

The latter idea eventually prevailed. I decided to go even further – to depict a single kidney instead of a pair, as having one healthy kidney makes an essential difference to one’s quality of life compared to the failure of both.I also liked the symbolic shortcut: the complex medical dialysis equipment used to cleanse the blood is colloquially called an “artificial kidney.”

This commission also gave me a new personal perspective on the kidney as a fascinating organ – one that we rarely think about in everyday life, as long as it works as it should.

Ultimately, this sculpture became my creative discovery that the kidney is beautiful even visually.

The architecture of the Dialysis Centre stands out for its pure white simplicity and precise, technical lines, reflecting trust and respect toward advanced medical care. My hand-modelled sculpture, with its bold colors and soft organic form, serves as a small but distinctive accent — one that, I hope, adds a touch of warmth and humanity to the building’s otherwise clinical appearance.

The installation and its ceremonial unveiling took place in the presence of the Centre’s staff, management, patients, and local media, who all showed great interest and enthusiasm.

My sincere thanks for this wonderful collaboration!

Ledvina | Alexandra Koláčková