He arrived in the UK in the summer of 1999. Two 10-ton blocks of Portland stone were transported to the site and within five weeks Ondrej, working in specially constructed studio spaces, had constructed four beautifully carved elements of the piece Eclipse.

The shapes are drawn from the imagined forms of old Slavik religions. These religions were pre-Christian and existed until the 18th Century amongst Slavik peoples, in central Europe. The central, standing forms represent the Slovak country and a Slavik chapel. The smaller stone has set within it a river stone from the geographical centre of Europe. The alignment of the four pieces is on an East- West axis, like the alignment of temples and holy places all round the world. The most easterly stone represents the rising sun and the setting sun is shown by the smaller circular shape. The cuts drawn on the surface of the sculpture shows the energy flowing from East to West. The pointed shapes at the top of the main section represent the countryside and the “shoulder” shapes the imprint of man and architecture on the countryside.

The intention is for the whole piece to assume the character of an ancient monument.

Any weathering which takes place in time will add to the energy of the work.

The precise site was chosen because of the flat ground and because of the relationship with the other more permanent sculptures in the Collection of the Trust.

To read Ondre Jzimka's Press Release, please click here