The inflatable bust of architect Fuchs was unveiled by its creators in Brno at Špíberk

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Brno - Today, the authors presented an inflatable bust of architect Bohuslav Fuchs in life-size at Špilberk Castle in Brno. Until June, it will be placed in the streets of Brno near buildings constructed according to his designs. This year marks the 130th anniversary of the architect's birth. The festive unveiling was accompanied by a vernissage in the Museum of the City of Brno's exhibition, which will also remind visitors of Fuchs as an interior designer. At the end of March, the statue will move from Špilberk to the former Moravian Bank building on Freedom Square.

The project authors are educators from the Faculty of Architecture at the Brno University of Technology, where the urban planner, architect, and proponent of functionalism also worked. Their goal is to commemorate Fuchs's structures and his contribution to the transformation of modern Brno. According to them, the statue corresponds with Fuchs's approach to architecture, which included an emphasis on functionality, materials used, and technologies.

"The pneumatic sculpture plays with the idea of whether Bohuslav Fuchs, as an architect of European stature, should have a classic statue in the city where he worked, and if so, where it should stand. At the same time, we say that the best sculptural monuments are his buildings if we take good care of them," stated one of the project authors, Rostislav Koryčánek.

The giant bust of the renowned architect weighs 15 kilograms, including the blower that keeps it upright, and is made from balloon fabric. The authors collaborated with the Brno-based company Kubíček Factory, which manufactures hot air balloons. "Just as Bohuslav Fuchs discovered new possibilities in architecture, we constantly explore the limits of materials and air. The connection of art with technology in this project shows that even traditional materials can have unexpected uses and reach a wide audience," added Jan Procházka from the balloon manufacturer.

The statue will gradually appear in front of several buildings in Brno designed by Fuchs. Among them are the Avion Hotel and the Grand Bus Station. QR codes will be available to guide interested parties to the Brno Architectural Manual database, which is the most comprehensive source for learning about Brno's architecture. A transport company will move the statue around Brno on a cart pulled by a cargo bike.

The exhibition intervention titled "The New World of Bohuslav Fuchs and Rudolf Sandal" will complement the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the City of Brno and will also commemorate the work of Fuchs's longtime collaborator, photographer Sandal. Original photographs and products from the Květná glassworks based on the architect's original designs will be on display.