The monumental sculpture Balance by sculptor Josef Klimeš has been one of the most striking works in Prague’s public space for decades. Thanks to its location on the Barrandov Bridge, it became part of the city’s everyday landscape and, at the same time, an example of the unique interplay between sculpture and architecture in the second half of the 20th century. The exhibition at Kobka 17 explores the story of this sculpture from its creation to the present, as a replica is currently being prepared.

The exhibition traces the entire process of creating Balance —from the initial ideas and planning in collaboration with architect Karel Filsak, through the preparation of models and studies, the construction of the mold, the actual casting in concrete, to the removal of the mold. It also documents how the sculpture has been perceived over the years. Balance gradually established itself as a fixture in the Prague landscape and became an inspiration for other artists, who depicted it and referenced it in their own works.

A pivotal moment was the collapse of the sculpture, which raised questions about our relationship to works of art in public spaces, their preservation, memory, and the possibility of restoration. The exhibition therefore also explores the current project to create a replica of Balance and the related questions of authenticity, materials, authorship, and what it actually means to restore a work that has been part of the living city for decades.

The exhibition also presents Josef Klimeš (1928–2018) as a prominent figure in Czech sculpture. In addition to Balance, it highlights his other significant works.

The exhibition will include a screening of the new documentary film Imprints of Time (directed by Petr Skala), which offers a personal perspective on Klimeš’s work. In the film, sculptor Josef Klimeš discusses his work and is also captured in the midst of his creative process. The film also features musician and visual artist Vladimir 518, who places Klimeš’s work within its historical cultural and social context and recalls his personal encounters with the sculptor.

The exhibition will also be accompanied by guided tours and other programming. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet, for example, sculptor Pavel Karous or Josef Klimeš’s granddaughter Ludmila Sedlák Mojžíšová, who will shed light on the sculptor’s personality and his work from a more personal perspective.

The exhibition Josef Klimeš – Balance is thus not merely a tribute to a single monumental work. It is the story of a sculpture that emerged in dialogue with architecture, became part of the city’s everyday life, and transformed in meaning over time. It is also the story of its fall and return—and it reopens the question of how to care for art that is inextricably linked to place, memory, and public space.