VIDEO: The square in Cheb is decorated with a Havel bench. It evoked emotions in the locals

“I am very excited because people’s interest in installing the bench was great,” said the organizer of the collection and project, Lucie Poláková from the Community Enlightenment Community. The amounts that people sent us ranged from 200 crowns to 50 thousand crowns. In total, we managed to collect 192 thousand crowns. The rest of the money for the production and installation of the work was paid for by the company Accolade, which is in charge of the Cheb industrial park, “explained Lucie Poláková.

The work of art consists of a round table with a linden tree trunk in the middle and two armchairs. Glass hearts and green snails are attached to them. There is an inscription engraved on the table in Czech and English: Truth and love must triumph over lies and hatred. A bench was placed on the square because in 1990 people were waiting for his arrival here in heavy rain and then they welcomed him warmly.

“People often pause over the price of this bench and ask me why it cost 300 thousand. To explain, I state that this is a work of art, there is an author’s license, but mainly part of the proceeds goes to the Vision 97 Foundation, which, for example, collaborates on spots against colon cancer, “said Lucie Poláková.

“I don’t know why Havel’s bench must have been here, there are so many people who would deserve such a work,” said tourist Marie Sýkorová from Aš. “I really like the bench, it could have been here a long time ago,” said Kateřina Malá from Sokolov again.

Discussions on social networks

The bench ignited a discussion on social networks. Many people do not agree with the idea, even though they paid for it, only those who wanted it in Cheb.

“I’ve seen comments on social media, but I’d rather not write anything there. I do not agree with the bench myself, I think that President Václav Havel, although he was the first Czech president, does not have so much in common with our city that he has to have the bench. And I did not agree with all his opinions, “said Jaroslava Sýkorová from Aš.

“It is true that there are many people who do not agree with the bench and do not like President Havel. In my opinion, the bench could have been here a long time ago. It’s a beautiful sitting area, which I think belongs in the square. In addition, I am glad that so many people deserved the bench, “said Eva Strádalová from Cheb.

Installing the bench was not easy at all, the bench manufacturers had to deal with the sloping terrain.

The idea of ​​memorial sites dedicated to the former president came from the Czech Ambassador to the United States, Petr Gandalovič, who approached architect and designer Bořek Šípek to create a public work of art inspired by the person and democratic ideals of the late President Václav Havel. Šípek, in the role of chief architect of the Prague Castle administration, worked on the renovation of the castle interiors in 1992–2002 and dedicated countless works of art to his close friend, President Havel, who in the document Citizen Havel by Pavel Koutecký and Miroslav Janek and subconsciously connected Bořek Šípek’s artefacts.

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