The sculpture is a monumental representation of a stylised human head, standing approximately 3 meters tall and weighing around 1000 kilograms.
Its title is Splynutí – a Czech word that can be translated as fusion, merging, or blending. The sculpture was made by Michal Trpák. The sculpture is placed in the middle of a body of water, on one of the branches of the Malse River, close to the Budweis Hotel. The object appears to be submerged in water, almost in the middle of the surface.
The sculpture is one object, but clearly divided into two structures: part of a human face and the swimming cap that hides the top of her head. The primary structure – the head itself – is printed from concrete, giving it a solid, heavy appearance and a fine-textured matte surface. The concrete is a soft, neutral grey, subtly mottled and uniform in tone. There is no added colouration or surface embellishment. The form is anatomically simplified and highly symmetrical, with smooth contours and minimal facial detail. The silhouette of the face is elongated. Likewise, all of its anatomical parts are slightly stretched upwards. The brow, nose bridge, cheekbones, and jawline are gently defined without harsh lines. The lips are closed and relaxed, and the eyes are either lightly indicated or completely smooth, contributing to an impassive, meditative expression. The ears fit tightly to the head silhouette. They are slightly outlined, so the transition from the face to the crown of the head is seamless and rounded.
Covering the top portion of the head, from just above the temple area over the crown and toward the nape, is a fitted cap. This cap is constructed also from concrete material, but in a smooth and matte finish. And this is superimposed with the reflection of light on the water surface. The cap is yellow, though lighting conditions may cause it to appear in different colour contexts.
Adorning the cap are numerous identical, almost regularly spaced ornamental forms. These elements resemble abstract flowers or stylised radial stars. Each consists of roughly 7 blunt, rounded, triangular petals radiating outward in a uniform circle. These decorative features are made of ceramic and finished in a soft coral-orange and beige hue. From a distance, the hat and its decorations blend into one gently changing pattern.
The object is submerged in water. The lower part of the jaw touches the water surface, the neck part is almost invisible. The sculpture seems to represent a figure calmly hidden in the water of the Malse River. The large size of the body represented in the sculpture could arouse anxiety in viewers if not for the calmness depicted on the concrete face.
Merging in the middle of the river current. It symbolizes a moment of calm and unity with the aquatic environment—or a connection to nature and our primordial roots. The artwork serves as a reminder that sometimes it’s good to pause, immerse ourselves in the present moment, and let our worries drift away. Water, as an element that surrounds and transforms us, offers a perspective in which our everyday concerns are put into context. It is a reflection on the duality of our existence—we are everything and nothing at the same time, both significant and insignificant, eternal and fleeting like ripples on the surface of the river beneath us.