The theme “Waves of Time” inspired me to focus on the Paleolithic period, which I consider key to the origins of human art. During my research, I was particularly struck by the exhibition The Oldest Jewelry and Body Adornments at the Moravian Museum. One of the highlights was an anthropological reconstruction of a shaman from Brno, accompanied by an installation of jewelry found in his grave on Francouzská Street. This find is personally significant to me, as it was discovered near where I live.
From previous collaboration with the Moravian Museum, I know that the purpose of these bone ornaments is still a matter of debate—they may have been beads, buttons, or other everyday items. In my project, I chose to interpret them as elements of a headband, replacing the original bone components with beads.
This work was created as part of the Master of Crystal competition organized by the company Preciosa.
The comb should not be seen merely as a fashion accessory, but also as a symbol of tears—especially those of political prisoners who were forced to work in absolutely inhumane conditions in the labor camp at Minkovice. The camp was strategically located next to the Preciosa factory complex, which failed to provide the prisoners with adequate protective equipment for working with crystal.
Common practices included restricted food rations, physical abuse, placement in solitary confinement (OVKT) and penal labor (ZO), workplace bullying, humiliation, systematic degradation, and physical torture. The company’s owner, Ludvík Karl, has never fully acknowledged these facts and continues to conceal them to this day. He acquired most of his wealth through privatization and was later awarded a state honor by Miloš Zeman.
