The Jablonec church of St. Anne is adorned with a new sculpture Memento

Jablonec nad Nisou - A more than two-meter high bronze cast of Jiří Sozanský's sculpture Memento now decorates the recently reconstructed St. Anne's Church in Jablonec nad Nisou. The monumental figure of Christ was created 30 years ago as part of an extensive project for the spaces of the Small Fortress in Terezín. Ivo Schötta, the director of the Preciosa Foundation, which acquired the work and permanently loaned it to the church, said this today to ČTK.
    Sozanský is one of the prominent artistic personalities in the country, and Memento is one of his key works. A lack of funds during the normalization period prevented him from creating the sculpture from noble material. However, since its original tin model has been preserved in the collections of the Memorials in Terezín, it was possible to proceed with the realization of the original intention after more than 30 years. According to the chairman of the foundation’s board, Věnek Šilhán, the monument has the mission of urging humanity not to commit evil.
    Sozanský engages in painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic art, and other artistic techniques. He is a member of the Mánes Association of Fine Artists and the Hollar Association. Since 1976, he has exhibited in 50 solo exhibitions both at home and abroad. His works are in collections in the Czech Republic, France, and Finland.
    The Preciosa Foundation has never undertaken such a cultural initiative. Its mission is to support projects in healthcare, education, culture, science, research, ecology, and the social sector. Most of its activities are directed towards the Liberec Region.
    St. Anne's Church is the oldest architectural monument in the fifty-thousand-strong Jablonec. Its current form dates from the second half of the 17th century, although some parts are much older. According to conservationists, a wooden church stood on its site as early as the mid-14th century, which later burned down, and a stone structure was built in its place.
    The dilapidated monument was acquired by the town hall two years ago free of charge from the Roman Catholic Church, which lacked the funds for its repairs. Its reconstruction cost around 25 million crowns, three-quarters of which were covered by grants from European funds. Since September, the church has mainly served secular cultural and social programs. Its operator has become the Municipal Theater in Jablonec nad Nisou, which organizes not only exhibitions but also concerts there.