It was a true honor to accompany the recent meeting between Her Excellency Rina Soemarno, Ambassador of Indonesia to the Czech Republic, and the recent graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (AVU), visual artist Viktoria Součková @viktoriesouckova.
Accompanied by our CEO, Marek Jakúbek, Her Excellency and her team from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Prague (KBRI Praha) visited the graduation exhibition of recent AVU graduates on June 26, 2026, with a special interest in Viktoria's diploma thesis, which draws deeply from Indonesian culture. Indeed, her six-month study stay at the Institut Seni Indonesia in Yogyakarta has left a lasting mark on her work.
The meeting took place in a friendly and open atmosphere—Her Excellency chatted with Viktoria during the exhibition tour about the inspiration the artist gathered during her stay in Indonesia, and how Indonesian aesthetics and symbolism have been reflected in her own artistic language. It is a true joy to witness two cultures in genuine dialogue, and it is inspiring to see the dedication of Her Excellency and her team from KBRI Praha in supporting cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Indonesia.
Artist Statement by Viktorie Součková for the Artwork Silence Above Water
The diploma thesis Silence Above Water stems from personal experiences of seeking peace and reflecting on what our defense mechanisms are. Through the object, it metaphorically interprets the feeling of weightlessness and vulnerability. The object installation, embodied in a light wooden boat and a concrete buoy, creates a dialogue about what it means to "stay afloat" in demanding and uncomfortable situations.
I compare the boat to a living body seeking a safe zone for navigation, while the concrete buoy marks a secure anchor point. The hull of the boat is a metaphor for my body. It is attached to a safety structure with floats, preventing it from taking flight while simultaneously protecting it from sinking. The boat thus becomes a symbol of a fragile yet heavy and clumsy body trying to find stability in turbulent waters.
The concrete buoy contrasts with the usual perception of a buoy as a light and buoyant object. Its material weight acts as an anchor and symbolizes a touchpoint that can be perceived as a paradoxical "freezing" in place.
The red-and-white stripes characteristic of markings on buoys designating safe areas on the water, but also of safety tape or railway barriers, on the one hand define a space of safety and orientation, and on the other hand warn of danger and crossing a boundary.
The main inspiration for the project was my long-term stay in Indonesia, where I created the first sketch while diving on the island of Banda Neira and sailing on traditional Jukung boats. The state of weightlessness and the feeling of returning to land after a relaxed state underwater became a key motif for the design and concept of the entire installation. Through this personal experience, I want to convey to viewers the sensation of balancing between heaviness and lightness, vulnerability and strength, stability and movement. Being underwater evokes an oceanic feeling of relaxation and weightlessness in me, reminiscent of the safety associated with our first experience in amniotic fluid before birth. This motif is reflected in objects intended for being on the water that have been washed ashore.
The installation seeks to visualize the state of inner balance and the fragility of ecosystems. Placed side by side, both objects create a contrast that invites the viewer to reflect on the relationships we form with ourselves and our surroundings. While the boat symbolizes the desire for movement and freedom, the buoy represents certainty and a sense of security burdened by weight.