And the Bathtub Be…

A giant sculpture consisting of 32 vintage bathtubs combined with original music and sound, emphasizing the importance of water.

Benedikt Tolar (1975) is one of the leading representatives of contemporary Czech art. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. The artist is known as an object artist and sculptor who deals with the recycling of everyday objects, transforming them into ready-made works of art through contextual transformation. In his work, he often explores themes of absurdity and infantilism. The giant living sculpture AJ VANA BE... is the artist's reaction to the theme of water as a precious resource, which he connects with the principles of upcycling obsolete bathtubs. The concave shape of the bathtubs creates a space for a light show synchronized with music.

• A composition was specially created for Karlovy Vary, inspired by the location of the sculpture and J. W. Goethe's visits to the spa town. This 4-minute musical poem will sound every half hour between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM. After dark, it will be complemented by a light show.

Sculptor: Benedikt Tolar | Music Author: Vladimír Štambach | Programming: Ladislav Fryc | Production: www.artshifters.eu

• **The placement of this unique sculpture is co-organized for you by the Karlovy Vary Tourist Information Centre, z. ú. as part of the upcoming VARY°Září light festival, which will take place on September 11 and 12, 2026.

A giant sculpture composed of 32 vintage bathtubs, combined with an original musical composition and sound design, highlighting the importance of water.

Benedikt Tolar (b. 1975) is one of the leading figures of contemporary Czech art. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Known primarily as a sculptor and object artist, he transforms everyday discarded objects into ready-made artworks through contextual reinterpretation. His work frequently explores themes of absurdity and infantilism.

The monumental interactive sculpture AJ VANA BE... is the artist's response to water as a precious natural resource, combining this theme with the principles of upcycling obsolete bathtubs. The concave shape of the tubs creates a unique space for a light installation synchronized with music.

A musical composition was created especially for Karlovy Vary, inspired both by the sculpture's location and by J. W. Goethe's visits to the spa town. This four-minute musical poem is performed every thirty minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. After dusk, it is accompanied by a synchronized light show.

Sculptor: Benedikt Tolar Music: Vladimír Štambach Programming: Ladislav Fryc Production: www.artshifters.eu

The installation of this unique sculpture is co-organized by the Karlovy Vary Tourist Information Centre as part of the upcoming VARY°Září Festival of Light, taking place on 11–12 September 2026.