Mythical Ship was installed on the banks of the Danube in 2010 as part of the artistic design of the Riverpark multifunctional complex. Of the disparate collection of sculptures erected in this private location, Mythical Ship is one of the finest. It is also thematically linked to the Danube, water, and riverbank. 

The creator of the work was Jaroslav Róna, a prominent Czech painter, sculptor, writer, and dramatist, who established himself during the second half of the 1980s as a member of the influential art group Tvrdohlaví (The Stubborn). His work is readily recognisable through its distinct aesthetics, archetypal quality, earthiness, and "timelessness". 

Within this framework, he created Mythical Ship, a work in which a man, pregnant woman, and dog sail above the waterfront. Their broad, flat silhouettes evoke the art of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, but also of monumental works of 20th-century modern sculpture. The universal motif of sailing and the archetypal figures of humans and animals leave scope for the viewer's imagination and for various interpretations. 

The work is mounted high above the ground on metal pillars. Its robust pyramidal base serves as a bench with views to the four cardinal points. The space also includes a viewing platform with decorative metal railings. The observation area aligns conceptually with the viewing platforms that divide the iconic travertine embankment wall designed by the architects Ivan Matušík and Ivan Szalay. 

ZD 

Research status as of 30. 06. 2023.