Dalibor Šípek with his father Bořek and half-brother Artur
Source: Profimedia
It has been seven long years since we said goodbye to the excellent artist, designer and castle architect of President Václav Havel Bořek Šípek. This extremely talented and world-renowned artist succumbed to an insidious disease prematurely, he died of pancreatic cancer on February 13, 2016. But his legacy is carried on by one of his sons, namely Dalibor. But his path is certainly not easy.
Dalibor was born and grew up together with his brother Milan in Amsterdam. His mother is the English dancer and choreographer Bambi Uden. The family returned to the Czech Republic after the revolution, when Dalibor was thirteen years old. Childhood was certainly not easy for Dalibor, two years later his father Bořek left the family for a new partner, the singer Leona Machálková.
Breakup, alcohol and the discovery of sexuality
“We were here with my mother and brother for only a few years, and my father immediately found another female personality, unfortunately known in the media. I couldn’t escape from it, the boulevard was always full of articles and photos, I saw it everywhere. I also blamed myself that maybe I was doing something wrong and that’s why dad left. But that’s probably how most children feel when they lose one of their parents during a divorce,” Dalibor confided to Czech Television in the 13th Chamber program.
“Settling” in the country that was supposed to become his new home for Dalibor was more difficult not only because of the absence of his father, but he had problems with the Czech language, alcohol, and he also began to discover his sexuality. “I already saw the scenarios in my head, how they would write about me, how I disappointed my parents and that they must be ashamed of me because I’m gay, even though I knew my parents wouldn’t have a problem with it. But I know the boulevard and I know that they like to make a lot out of it,” Dalibor, who is now mature and balanced, expressed his feelings at the time.
What will Borek never know?
But as can be seen today, although he suffered health consequences due to alcohol problems, his heart forgave his father, after the death of Bořek Šípek, Dalibor tries to save the family business ANEŽKA. He consults with his brother Milan, who works in China as an architect, about what is best for the company. He even followed in his father’s footsteps and designs glass, which the late Šípek did not learn and will not learn again. Does he regret it? “I don’t know, it’s just the way it is. However, my father always supported me and my brother in whatever we enjoyed. He didn’t tell us what to do, but when we needed it, he gave us advice,” the son of the famous father told Czech Radio Vltava.
Resources: idnes.cz, ceskatelevize.cz, vltava.rozhlas.cz
