Carnevale

Adam Alva Fejfar, Prague 2019
bronze, sandstone
height 295 cm, width 260 cm, depth 205 cm

The sculpture was donated by the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Prague to the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

The work was completed with the financial support of GENERALI (Generali CEE Holding B.V.).

Artistic concept and intent of the work

The sculpture depicting a lion and she-wolf symbolises the friendship between the Italian and Czech republics. Created on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of friendly Czech-Italian political, diplomatic, social and cultural relations, its creator named the work 'Carnevale'.

It presents, in a realistic-symbolist rendition, the Italian wolf, specifically the she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus, and the Czech double-tailed lion, symbols that are universally known. Under normal circumstances, these two proud and independent wild beasts would not be side by side. Here, however, they sit flank to flank, interconnected and allowing both nations to flow through one another.

A sense of calm and mutual awareness emanates from them; furthermore, they share the same ground (the pedestal) and direct their gazes and thoughts in the same direction – making it clear that they act together.

United, they have symbolically opened up to one another, with the exact same air, dust, light, darkness, snow and rain flowing through them. The modelling reveals a certain supernatural quality in both animals, which in no way detracts from their strength and dignity.