Published: 28.09.2021
The metal sculpture of the Chemist, which had been located on Palackého Street since 1978, has moved to the Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice and now stands in front of the dean’s office in the ‘university square’. In 2020 the sculpture made by the academic sculptor Luboš Moravec was donated by the City of Pardubice to the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the occasion of the 70th anniversary of higher chemical education in Pardubice.
The unveiling ceremony took place on 23 September 2021 on a nice sunny afternoon. The unveiling was also attended by the Deputy Mayor Mgr. Jakub Rychtecký, who had been very instrumental in a smooth transfer of the ownership rights. The original location of the sculpture of the Chemist on Palackého Street was no longer reasonable, especially after FChT had moved from Čs. legií Square to the university campus in Stavařov in 2009. The sculpture is now located in a new setting in a public area, which was one of the main preconditions for the transfer of the ownership rights.
The ceremony was attended by many significant guests including the daughter of the academic sculptor Luboš Moravec Ms. Ivana Dvořáková. Before the unveiling, a speech was given by the Dean of FChT Prof. Petr Kalenda, Deputy Mayor Mgr. J. Rychtecký and Rector of the University of Pardubice Prof. Jiří Málek. The donation of the sculpture is a symbolic expression of mutual cooperation between the city and the university. Pardubice is the city of chemistry and the metal sculpture of the ‘Chemist – Atomic Scientist’ is a unique piece of art and signifies the link to education in the city and region. The sculpture underwent professional restoration in the workshop of the artistic blacksmith Karel Bureš, who treated the entire surface and designed a new cylindrical base. The base is provided with a commemorative plaque reminding the friendship and cooperation between the city and the university.
We must not forget the transport and fastening of the sculpture by the company Hanč Moving. Everything was done in good time.
The guests were presented with a gift bag including an information brochure about the sculpture and a commemorative certificate designed in cooperation with Oldřich Jiskra by the artist Jarmila Jiravová. One of the other gifts was a new photographic book The Pardubice labyrinth of chemistry in the course of 70 years in pictures which had been specially created as part of the anniversary and was officially launched in the foyer of the faculty.
The programme of the ceremony included an opening of the exhibition Horses and Their People by the artist and painter J. Jiravová. The exhibition of the paintings of horses, which is linked to the travelling award The European Horse City – Pardubice 2020, will be open to the general public until the end of 2021.
Mgr. Lucie Stříbrná, Ph.D. - Vice-Dean for External Affairs / foto Milan Reinberk
