TRIFOT | 2016

Trifot is a 12-metre walking sculpture by David Černý, which was tailored for the gallery Czech Photo Centre, and it is also installed in front of this gallery. Trifot gives the semblance that it is coming from Nové Butovice Metro Station and resolutely moves in the direction of Hůrka Station. The sculpture has several aspects:

DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS

David Černý got inspiration from the walking plant from the legendary sci-fi novel by John Wyndham Day of the Triffids. The stainless steel creature Trifot consists of a tripod and head, which consists of real cameras. They evoke the development of photographic technology in human history - from the bellows camera to the Canon and Nikon brand cameras, the market leaders. These cameras are the eyes in the face of the Trifot. An integral part of the head is a model of the Leica Camera, which was sent to the Moon.

BIG BROTHER

A further dimension is “Big Brother”. The author thus states that everyone is in continuous connection with the photographs and video. It is possible in the modern world to take photographs or make a video recording of almost anybody, always and at all places on the planet. Regardless of whether you want it or not. Trifot provides passers-by with entertainment and a game on screen. The passer-by is at a certain point picked by the large eye of the Trifot, it follows him, activates the camera and displays the passers-by on the surrounding large format screens without recording the sequence.

According to a statement by the Office for Protection of Personal Data dated 4 October 2016, taking photographs of random pedestrians outside the Czech Photo Centre gallery, which are taken by means of the Trifot sculpture in an appropriate manner, is considered free of charge legal artistic licence and there is no need for the subjects to provide their consent to having an image taken.

PASSER-BY TECHNO

The Trifot does move through the boulevard alone but is accompanied by two rows of other techno creatures. Three large format televisions sets on the right side showing the images of the passers-by who are being scanned by the Trifot. The images also carry information about the events in Czech Photo Centre using modern graphics, slide shows and videos. On the left side, four analog cabinets containing photographs of the exhibitions organised in the gallery are trying to keep pace with the Trifot.

Did you know that...

Trifot is part of the artistic promenade. The Trifot not only neighbours the further work of David Černý - the Cyberdog, but also the Czech Photo Centre gallery. You can couple its inspection with a visit to the gallery. Beside the Trifot Statue is a restaurant of the same name, where you can sometimes meet David in person.

Location:

Seydlerova ulice, Prague 5 – Stodůlky