Localisation: South Bohemian Research Library
The sculpture “Space-Shift” by Diana Winklerová stands on a lawn in the garden of the South Bohemian Research Library. The object is approximately 60 centimetres high, 110 centimetres long and around 80 centimetres deep. It is made of polystyrene, concrete and epoxy, and covered with oil paint.
The sculpture has the shape of a large, rounded stone or a boulder smoothed by water. It has no sharp edges, corners or flat surfaces. The whole form is soft, rounded, but also a little irregular. From above, it resembles an elongated drop or a flattened pear. One end is wider and more bulbous, while the other gently narrows. From the side, the object looks like a low, massive mound: it is broad at the bottom, and rises into a smooth, slightly convex dome.
The sculpture does not stand directly on the grass. It is raised a few centimetres above the ground. It stands on a short, black support, which is almost invisible. Beneath the object, the grass is worn away in places, and the soil is exposed.
The entire surface of the sculpture is green, but not uniform. It is also smooth and slightly glossy. The colour shifts from a dark, saturated green in the lower parts to a lighter, turquoise green at the top. In the light, bright reflections appear on its surface. The object was painted in such a way that it does not hide the artist’s hand and work – here and there, there are brushstrokes and soft transitions of colour.
Blurred patches and bands are painted onto the green surface. They do not form a clear image. They resemble smudged reflections of the surroundings: light, shadow, grass and plants. Some of them may bring clouds to mind. On the sides, darker horizontal streaks are visible. They run along the lower part of the sculpture, like a shadow or a reflection of the ground. Higher up, lighter, irregular patches appear. Some have the shape of soft rectangles or ovals. Their outlines are blurred, as if the image were slightly out of focus.
The character of the sculpture shifts slightly from one side to another. On one side, a smooth, convex surface dominates, without many details. On another side, there are more painterly patches: lighter shapes separated by darker bands. From the front, the object may resemble a green boulder with a broad, darker hollow painted at the bottom. From above, the form is calmer and more uniform: the rounded shape comes to the fore.
The sculpture stands among real greenery: grass, shrubs and trees. Nearby, there are paths and building façades. As a result, the green, painted object is placed in surroundings of similar colours, but clearly differs from them through its smooth, artificial surface and rounded form.