Meeting Alexandra Koláčková

Works of art have had their place in gardens and parks since time immemorial. They can be an unobtrusive accessory, an extravagant piece of jewellery, a guide, or they can be the central motif, the main reason why a garden space was created. A work of art and its placement in a garden can have a deeply personal meaning, or it can be the result of a meticulously thought-out architectural design.

Alexandra Koláčková's works are recognisable at first sight, her handwriting is unmistakable. And yet, or perhaps because of this, they run the narrative line of a given space in so many different directions... They are an ornament, a climbing frame, the centre of a space, a surprise peeking out of the undergrowth, a bench... And this is what I personally really appreciate about Alexandra's work.

Most gardens are not just observed, the space is actively used - touching, sitting, lying, walking and rolling are allowed, even welcomed. And so it is with Alexandra Koláček's sculptures. Their rounded, simple and friendly shapes and often larger-than-life size directly invite us to climb them. That's a huge bonus for me as a landscape architect. A garden, and everything in it, should invite a visit, a beckoning finger to explore and discover. And in the case of Alexandra's sculptures, it's often not just a figure of speech, but an actual hand, or indeed a whole body, inviting you to sit, lie down, lean back... whatever you want and whatever comes to mind. And your children, and the visitor, and their children.