Srdce pro Václava Havla, sculpture made of metal, Prague, Czech Republic
Srdce pro Václava Havla is a steel sculpture by Kurt Gebauer on Václav Havel Square, the former piazzetta of the National Theatre in Prague's New Town. Its central motif is a tilted red heart set on the ground and wall, engraved with inscriptions and topped by Václav Havel's signature. Beside it stand three metal wire heart sculptures, and a metal plaque is set into the paving.
The sculpture was installed in 2016 to mark the 80th birthday of Václav Havel, a writer and the first president of the Czech Republic after the fall of the communist regime. It was created as a gift through the initiative of his wife Dagmar Havlová and the director of the National Theatre.
The name means Heart for Václav Havel. The piece was initiated by his widow, actress Dagmar Havlová, and National Theatre director Jan Burian, and unveiled on 4 October 2016 during an international theatre festival. A metal plaque set into the paving carries an inscription; nearby on Divadelní Street stands the bronze statue Znovuzrození.
The sculpture sits on a plaza between the National Theatre buildings and is easy to reach on foot, especially if you take the metro or tram near the theatre. The location is accessible year-round and the heart's lighting is especially visible in the evening.
The three small wire hearts beside the main sculpture are easy to miss. The tilted red heart bears engraved inscriptions, and Václav Havel's signature is placed above it. A metal plaque set into the pavement completes the memorial.
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