A New Artwork at the Dancing House: The Swimmers by Veronika Psotková

Visible from afar, the figures from the The Swimmers series immediately draw the eye with their elegance and remarkable sense of lightness. Their open, airy structure allows the surrounding environment to pass through them, creating an ever-changing relationship between sculpture and architecture. The installation is part of this year's Sculpture Line festival, and its placement at the Dancing House offers a fresh perspective on one of Prague's most celebrated buildings. We spoke with Veronika Psotková about the inspiration behind the work, its relationship with architecture and what she hopes visitors will experience.

What do The Swimmers represent to you? Are they more a symbol of freedom or solitude?

They bring a sense of free movement into architecture and its open, airy space. In this particular setting, they are symbolically moving towards the Vltava River. Freedom can sometimes also carry a sense of solitude, but I'll leave that interpretation to each individual viewer.

How did the idea of placing the installation beneath the Dancing House's "skirt" come about?

The invitation came from Sculpture Line, which has collaborated with the Dancing House on sculptural interventions for several years. For me, choosing The Swimmers for this location was an obvious decision. It was a unique opportunity – one you simply don't turn down.

Your figures gently move with the wind. How important are movement and changeability in your work?

They are essential. When I create sculptures for outdoor spaces, I intentionally work with these qualities. Context and the interaction between my sculptures and architecture are incredibly important to me. Changing light, shifting skies and constantly evolving perspectives all become part of the artwork. They continuously transform the sculptures, giving them new expressions, and that's something I absolutely love.

You often work with the human figure. What does the body in space represent for you?

It's the fundamental principle of my work. The idea of "the body in space" encompasses an endless range of processes, relationships and themes that I can explore. In many ways, it represents everything my work is about.

How does The Swimmers reflect the relationship between people and the environments they inhabit?

The figures are partially transparent, allowing them to merge with their surroundings almost literally from certain viewpoints. Their placement responds to the architecture and its spatial composition so they can inhabit it naturally and comfortably. I think the same is true for people. We choose the places where we want to live, we let them become part of us, and then either adapt to their possibilities or help create new ones.

What would you like visitors to take away from the installation?

I hope they leave imagining how wonderful it would be to rise above the crowds and drift freely through this beautiful city, just like these two figures.