Aerial is a public sculpture intricately connected to the historical and natural context of its location at Bořislavka in Prague. The work draws inspiration from the ancient trade routes that once passed through the area, conceptualized as a “mountain pass” that allows humans to traverse natural obstacles with ease. This idea is embodied in the form of Aerial, which resembles natural rock formations, petrified trees, or stalagmites, symbolizing the passage of time.
Though static, Aerial conveys a sense of movement, as it appears to grow from a pool of water, with gentle streams cascading from its peak. From a distance, the sculpture mimics a natural object, but upon closer inspection, its man-made origins are revealed, emphasizing the tension between nature and human creation. This experience is further enriched by an augmented reality layer that offers a deeper interaction with the piece.
The sculpture is crafted from Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) using a novel technique of additive robotic fabrication developed by Díaz and his team. This innovative approach allowed for the creation of a monumental structure without the use of traditional molds, blending subtlety with grandeur in its execution.
Credits
Dmitrij Nikitin, Jan Aulík, Jan Duchecek, Jiří Kolísko, Petr Kněž, Daniel Marko, Anna Minaříková, Jan Morávek, Karel Ondrášek, Petr Pufler, Petr Pujman, Jakub Petr, Jaroslav Stehlík, Kamil Tupý, Luboš Veselý, Záviš Unzeitig, Arťom Zavorochin
Photo by Boys Play Nice
Video by Emil Gallik