Sculptor David Černý is well known and medial visible figure of Czech culture unlike most contemporary artists. His creations are mostly meant for public sector. As his first  success that was positively received by the public is considered to be statue of “Walking Trabant” placed at Old Square (1990). After this there was a big controversy about his another creation called “Pink tank” (1991) when he overpainted old Soviet army monument in a form of tank with pink colour. In that time this was considered to be  singular political action that had wide medial response. His artistic intentions are received here positively either negatively. His actions are about testing social limits despite the fact that many of his project are financially unrealisable.

          Another controversy has appeared around David Černý’s “Lilith” (2022) which is located at Prague’s Karlín district. The twenty-four meters statue that weighs thirty-five tons and it’s still under construction. It has also received some criticism for what’s the statue represents and what went wrong by the reviewer.

          The Statue had to be assembled out of metal parts and the head was last to go. Lilith seems like a second version or successor to David’s previous work “Head of Franz Kafka” which is characterised as a kinetic art. “Lilith” is set like a support to the wall of housing structure and it’s not the only one statue around the structure. There are two more statues a hand and a leg that hold the structure above the ground. All three statues carries the same framework design.

          When I read article about this statue there was one paragraph from reviewer that stuck in my head. 'I watched the whole thing as it was in process of construction and it got me thinking about why is there a woman body? In original plans was stated that there would be a man supporting the building. After that I realised it’s quite primitive idea but I understood it in a context with his “Kafka head” where he tried how the form and material worked for him. But in the end I think that the whole concept and idea of two masculine mens got lost. Instead of that we see statue of Lilith, Lucifer’s hand and Adam’s hand. I swear that I would never live in this building. There is no feminine symbol of Lilith for me there. In my case I see dark power and embodiment of demon’ (Marie Foltýnová, 2022).

          It is hard to say who is right. I kinda of agree with both of them. David Černý stands for the idea of feminine representation that it show how the women emancipated trough decades. On the other hand Maria sees it as something disturbing and negative. There are so many things in play. Mythology or gender emancipation? I would say that those two things go against each other. Because in the end we have Lilith that acts like a figure of demon and became mother and child slayer. Then there is Lilith that tried to get same rights for women as mens had. It’s nonsense but I like the contrast. If someone would question the pornography or nudity symbols in this statue I would say it will fade in few months and people won’t even notice that the statue is naked. Moreover most people in todays society are used to see naked bodies so why not. By my opinion it’s a nice kitsch with several meanings that collides together and they deny each other. You don’t see that every day… Who knows maybe it will get better response in couple of years. Maybe it’s just not ripe yet I guess.

Marie, F. (2022) magazin.aktualne.cz, Available at: https://magazin.aktualne.cz/bydleni/architektura/kuratorka-cerny-nema-sebereflexi-lilith-neprinasi-nic-noveho/r~0b4df5ea4fa611eda9eeac1f6b220ee8/ 

(Accessed: 23 October 2022).