Description

Sunrise, Petra Hřebačková, 2018

The work Sunrise appears like a moment of light captured within solid matter. Its tall vertical form opens upwards into two slender peaks, while bands of blue and red glass, complemented by opal glass, alternate within the object. The individual lines cut through the form in different directions, creating a sense of movement and transformation even though the material itself remains solid and precisely defined.

This transformation evokes the moment when the sky changes within a matter of minutes at sunrise or sunset. Warm light still remains in one part of the space while another is already shifting towards cooler tones. Petra Hřebačková, however, does not translate this natural phenomenon into a descriptive image. Sunrise is neither a landscape nor a specific scene. Instead, the atmosphere is transformed into an abstract language of colour, line and light.

The colour palette is striking, yet very precisely constructed. Here Petra Hřebačková works with a combination of blue and violet glass, red glass in several shades, and opal glass. It is precisely the contrast between these materials that defines the character of the entire object.

The red tones range from deeper, more saturated hues to softer and lighter shades. The blue sections introduce a cooler counterbalance to the composition and help emphasise the vertical direction of the work. The opal glass acts as a calmer and visually softer element, balancing the tension between the stronger colours.

Individual bands of colour run diagonally through the object and guide the eye upwards. Some lines appear to break optically as they pass across an edge, while others continue deeper into the object, changing their relationships as the viewing angle shifts. This is precisely why Sunrise cannot be perceived as a flat colour composition. Colour is part of the very mass of the glass itself.

Its intensity changes depending on the thickness of the material, the passage of light and the number of layers through which we are looking. In some places, the colour appears lighter and more transparent; elsewhere it becomes optically concentrated and gains greater depth. The opal glass also introduces a different type of light effect into the composition than the transparent coloured sections. It does not interact with light in the same way, but rather softens and diffuses it. As a result, the object contains an intriguing alternation between transparency, saturation and luminous softness.

The clarity of the final composition depends on highly precise work with glass. The individual coloured elements must be carefully planned before thermal processing so that, once joined, they create the intended structure. This is followed by firing and controlled cooling, which is essential for more massive glass objects due to the internal stress within the material.

Once cooled, the glass is ground. The ground surfaces define the final silhouette of Sunrise and also determine the way light enters the glass. In an object with such pronounced edges, precision is essential – every plane reflects and refracts light differently. Final polishing then optically “opens” the surface. Thanks to this, the coloured layers can be observed deep within the object and their intersections can be perceived rather than only the colour visible on the surface.

At 53 cm high, the work has a strong vertical presence. It therefore works best as a standalone object with sufficient space around it. An elevated plinth, console or chest of drawers is ideal, allowing the sculpture to be viewed approximately at eye level. It is from this position that its slender silhouette and division into two peaks can be appreciated most effectively.

Light is extremely important. Side daylight enhances the transparency and allows the coloured bands to create additional reflections. Against a light background, the object will appear softer and more airy; against a darker one, the saturation of the colours and the sharpness of the edges become more pronounced. The work functions well in a contemporary residential interior, entrance hall, study or representative space, where it can become a single strong colour accent.

Sunrise from 2018 represents a highly characteristic aspect of Petra Hřebačková’s practice: the combination of vivid colour, precise geometric construction and an active relationship with light. For collectors, the work is also compelling because of its ability to change character according to its surroundings. During the day, it may appear light and transparent, while in the evening, under focused lighting, it can become considerably more dramatic.

It is therefore not simply an object with one definitive appearance. Its visual form is recreated each time the light changes or the viewer changes position. This is precisely where the strength of Sunrise lies: a fleeting moment of light is given a permanent form in glass without losing its sense of transformation.

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