Karviná will place giant ants at the entrance to the city; they are meant to symbolize hard work

Karviná – The roundabout upon entering Karviná from the direction of Český Těšín will be adorned with giant ants starting next week. The artist of the corten steel artwork is Denis Křižánek. The sculptures are meant to symbolize hard work that propels the city forward. This was stated by the spokesman for the city hall, Monika Danková.

"The placement at the roundabout is intentional. The new symbol is meant to be visible not only to local residents but also to all who arrive in Karviná. In the future, the motif could symbolically connect more places in the city," Danková said.

The larger of the ants is three meters tall and weighs approximately 450 kilograms, while the smaller one measures 1.3 meters and weighs about 90 kilograms. "The ant has always been a symbol of systematic and persistent work and the ability of individuals to function as a whole. It is hardworking and works as part of a team, just like many people in Karviná who want to change their surroundings through their work. These values, which are close to our city, we wanted to symbolically portray," said Tomáš Trampler, head of the local economy department of the municipal services office.

The production of the ants took approximately 250 hours, including design and construction preparation. The sculptor chose a geometric approach. "The organic shape of the ant is divided into dozens of precisely designed surfaces that together create a striking, contemporary form. The resulting sculpture was created from around three hundred individual parts cut using CNC technology and subsequently welded into the final shape with maximum precision," the spokeswoman stated.

The sculptures are made of corten steel, which is strong, durable, and gradually acquires a natural patina. "Each part has its precise place and must connect to the others. Even a slight deviation would affect the overall shape, so it was necessary to proceed with maximum precision. It is a combination of careful preparation and craftsmanship experience," Křižánek stated.

On Wednesday, workers will be on site preparing the installation. They will adjust the base and bring in larger stones that are part of the artwork. The city plans to place the sculptures on Thursday. "The ants can gradually create an imaginary path through the city and connect various places with a common idea. A natural continuation is, for example, the Božena Němcová Park, where we are preparing the establishment of an Eco Center with animals. This natural motif thus takes on another dimension, and it is possible that there will be more ants in the city in the future,” said Deputy Mayor Lukáš Raszyk (SOCDEM).