At Tuesday’s talk at the Skautsky institute, right next to the astronomical clock in the old town square there was a silvery haired gentleman in the audience. We were giving a talk at a TRSY Land Art Festival event, but as ever we were on the lookout for models. There was a nod from Karoline, and it was decided: We had to ask if the mystery gentleman had some free time before the weekend.
Our new friend turned out to be a sculptor, academic and a lecturer at The Department of Landscape Architecture at The Czech University of Life Sciences. Aleš Hnízdi lives in Měchenice, 40 minutes down the Vltava river, just south of Prague. His daughter Sára joined us in the sculpture garden and translated as Aleš spoke about his life and work. The whole afternoon was soothingly calm and the two weary travellers took comfort in the shade of his beautiful vine covered house. His seven chickens run riot in the backround as we chitchatted about life and enjoyed the homemade cake, before heading up to the mountains for a vertical shoot.