Home for Christmas

There is something about the phrase 'Home for Christmas'. Originally, I planned to stay in England and even started organising what to do and when. However, at the end everything was different since I had decided to go home after all. Our family is spread all over the world and this year we actually managed to organise ourselves and meet up after I do not even know how many years. Therefore, this year is extra special. And the decoration made by the Čáslav town hall is simply charming.

Outdoor nativity set.

Chainsaw was used to create these figures. For the past few years, this nativity set decorates a small park of my hometown.


I just love their squashed faces, don't you?










Indoor nativity set.

I remember this one from my childhood. Our grandma used to take us to the church to see baby Jesus. And of course, as children we loved to see little figures.

Nowadays, I preise the craftsmanship. Wooden figures beautifully painted, the background curtain,...

This nativity set will always stay in my memory.


Over the years, Christmas decoration has become richer. At the background here you can also just about make up a tower that is a part of medieval ramparts. Such backdrop together with Christmas decoration already invites to the festive atmosphere.


The town hall (right) always plays on the architecture of this building. It is simply given to use the balcony and the high alcove to light up to the Christmas feeling.



This fountain works well during warmer months. However, in winter when the temperature drops well below zero it might not be a good idea to fill any fountain with water. And this is why the structure is actually quite sad. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by this idea. A fountain with a light-fall.



So this is my 'Home for Christmas'. The only shame is that there is not any snow. Oh well, I cannot have everything. What I have is my family around me and that is what counts. Therefore, wishing you a great 2012 and see you next year. Kx

Vánoce = Christmas

Enjoy!

Tribute to Václav Havel

Whole day today, I have listened to tributes paid to the former president of the Czech Republic Václav Havel who died earlier today. Playwright, dissident, fighter for freedom and most of all, humanist. Quite an unlikely political figure who took his presidency on a human level.

The Czech Embassy in London has its flag flown on half mast as a sign of respect and the ambassador Michael Žantovský has spoken with such a respect and dignity about his friend. Tributes are paid from leaders from all over the world.

I was only ten when the Velvet Revolution took place in then Czechoslovakia and remember the excitement everybody had on the fall of communism, birth of democracy, even the separation that lead to creation of the Czech and Slovak Republics. All this time, Václav Havel stood at forefront as a leader and most of all a human being to whom everybody looked with adoration and respect.

The world has lost a great and much loved individual.


Update: 24 December 2011

For three days, the Czech Embassy offered writing a message into a book of condolences to whoever was interested. By the time I got there on Thursday evening I wrote into a third book. Flicking throughout all three books, one could see how much Václav Havel meant to people.


Messages written in not only Czech or English, little drawing by Czech artist living and working in London Hynek Martinec and a little shrine in front of the Embassy. How meaningful...

Nativity Set

Three figures belonging to Nativity Set: Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Can you make them out?

Made some seven years or so ago out of clay I got from a craft shop, these mini figures have been put on display every Christmas to celebrate this festive occasion. I say 'mini figures' since the highest one is only 5cm tall. I remember that my original intention was to paint over them but somehow the whiteness convinced me not to. Such purity actually nicely demonstrates Christmas I would say.

Every year, I make different settings. Once the figures sit on a bed of needles from a branch, other time I construct a cave-like backdrop. On all occasions though, I have to bring in a branch to allow its scent to spread all around. Unfortunately, I have no photographs to share with you. However, the main characters are present and that is what counts, don't you think?

This festive season is running at its full now. Do enjoy it. Kx

Mini Christmas Tree

Believe it or not, this is what I call a Christmas tree. Rather small I must admit (only 5.5 cm) but still it is a Christmas tree made out of glass. I put it together in time for Christmas 2009 and display it as my Christmas decoration since (not for long yet but it has certainly become an important part of this season's festive decor).

And as it goes, there is a little story attached to it (as there always is with my designs).

There were five small glass bowls. One day, a clumsy human being (me) placed one of them at the edge of a table and before she knew it, this one glass bowl fell down and smashed into small pieces that scattered all over the floor.

The clumsy human being collected them and somehow glued them back together. Since then, there are four glass bowls and a mini tree I dare to call a Christmas tree.


What an approach to have to one's surroundings. Somehow, I could not bring myself to throwing the smashed glass bowl away. I think it was the textured surface that silently talked to me suggesting that I may find some use for it. Of course, the time of the year (late autumn) also helped me to make a decision and glue the pieces into a decor for Christmas.

And so, welcome to the charm this season offers and soak its atmosphere with all the festivities. And, most of all, do not let anybody or anything (such as the madness of commercial side of Christmas) destroy it. Kx

Visit to Tate Modern

Last week I met two of my friends from Richmond Adult Community College where we studied Foundation to Art & Design. After completing the course, we all went our own way as you do and this is why it was extra special to meet up after some seven years or so. And what a better place to get together in style than the Tate Modern and visit 'Panorama', Gerhard Richter exhibition.

I do not have words to describe this exhibition apart from stating that it was absolutely fantastic. Such was my experience that I took a number of pictures inspired by the show on my way home and used Photoshop to tweak them in a Richter style.

In his early years, Gerhard Richter used photographs as a base for his paintings. What is worth studying are the brushstrokes. With the help of Photoshop I tried to copy such style and my interpretation is what you can see in this pair of 'before&after'. It is a far cry from Richter's skill but produces an interesting outcome.

Later on in his career, he also used squeegee to produce large canvases filled with layers of colour that would be peeled off at places to reveal the surface underneath.

I used Photoshop to see what I can create and this is my interpretation. Again, this does not do much justice to Richter's art but certainly is an interesting excersice for me.

Sitting at a café at the Tate, I could not stop myself from looking towards the balcony and beyond. Twice I left the girls to take photographs. The introductory image shows Millennium Bridge leading towards St. Paul's Cathedral. However, I took a few more. The scenery in a sunny wintery light was simply irresistible.

What a day that was. I got to meet my friends, one of whom I have not seen for years, and visited exhibition of such a high standard. I certainly enjoyed my day. Kx