Statue made by Štefan Papčo in the UNESCO collection in Paris
A statue made by our colleague Štefan Papčo, head of the Studio of Free Sculpture, has become part of the UNESCO collection of works of art and is located in the exterior of its headquarters in Paris. It is the first Slovak work in this international collection.
The important international collection has been expanded with the first work by a contemporary Slovak artist – the bronze statue Jaroslav (2019) by sculptor Štefan Papčo. The UNESCO collection, which has been built over a long period of time, consists of more than 700 old, modern and contemporary works of art, representing diversity from all over the world. The statue of Štefan Papčo is located among the works of prominent authors such as Jean Arp, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Magdalena Abakanowicz and others.
More information about the collection
"Jaroslav"
Jaroslav by Štefan Papčo communicates several important current topics through traditional figurative motifs – a reference to the communist past, social problems, a warning about the relationship between humans and nature, an appeal to save natural and cultural heritage, life in the city and the issue of homeless people. Behind these topics, which move contemporary society, is also a sincere expression of tribute to the mountaineer Jaroslav Jašek and other members of the mountaineering expedition who tragically died in 1988 while attempting the first ascent of Mount Everest.
The background of Papčo's spatial thinking is mountaineering, which marks his strategies, inspirations and themes. The author sees it as a metaphor for an extreme life situation, risk and the limits of existence, but also as an escape from the gallery to the "temple of nature" and a manifestation of indomitable courage.
The official ceremony of handing over Štefan Papčo's work to the collection took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Andrea Azoulay.
Štefan Papčo's works in Slovak galleries