Alena Matějka – Cloned Mary

Exhibition date:  October – November 2007

This installation by Alena Matějka consists of a great number of glass figures hanging from the tree. The uniform figures of different positions and colors convey the artist’s philosophy with respect to the likeness and variety of multiplied life.

Alena Matějka belongs to the younger generation of glass artists who are constantly searching for new methods in glass art. She studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague under Prof. Vladimir Kopecký, who was known for allowing students all artistic freedoms and encouraging them to pursue unconventional paths. Matějka possesses an extraordinarily versatile artistic portfolio, characterized by a curiosity about life and a great joy in experimentation. Her unique sculptures, objects, and installations are collected and exhibited worldwide. Alena Matějka does not work exclusively with glass; she often incorporates other materials such as stone, marble, ice, and organic materials. However, glass plays a defining role in her creations. With this medium, she creates a fascinating cosmos of contrasts such as truth and fiction or compassion and irony. Her sculptures and installations confront the viewer directly and demand a response. Her storytelling is never linear but rich in metaphors and unexpected twists. Alena Matějka is a master of exaggeration, paradox, and provocation, making the stories she tells through her works always exciting and inspiring. Today, she lives in the Czech Republic with her husband, the Swedish stone sculptor Lars Widenfalk.