A moving statue depicting the head of writer Franz Kafka near Spálená Street in Prague will move again on Thursday evening after five months of repairs. During the repairs, technicians replaced the rotating system of each floor of the statue, which should ensure a longer life and easier maintenance of the work by artist David Černý. Jakub Velen, spokesman for CPI Property Group, said Thursday’s commissioning will include a light show and musical accompaniment.
“All of its forty-two rotating floors have undergone necessary maintenance. Our technicians have replaced the actual rotating mechanism of each floor. It is equipped with a more modern technical solution that will ensure a longer life and easier maintenance of the entire work,” said Alex Černý, director of Deus Automation, the company that carried out the repair of the sculpture.
Starting Thursday evening, the sculpture will rotate in the same mode as before the repairs, every full hour for 15 minutes. In between, it will be possible to observe a series of small movements of individual parts.
The moving bust of Franz Kafka, which is a popular tourist destination, is 10.6 metres high and weighs 39 tonnes. Since 2014, it has been placed in front of the Quadrio shopping centre. The current construction uses a solution known from industrial automation and robotics – 42 motors and almost a kilometre of cables are inside the statue. The stainless steel panels rotate independently, so that the face takes on different grimaces. Due to its technological complexity, the work required regular servicing and more extensive maintenance was required every year.
Source: CPIPG and CTK
