BOŘEK ŠÍPEK

Sentenced to Death
by Dušan Všelicha
Our lives are not infinite and in that sense we are all sentenced to death. Yet some of us
still want to sentence others to death. Isn´t the logic of the death penalty faulty? The future
dead condemn other future dead. Sarcastic and somewhat diabolical laughter echoes after
that sentence. After each deceased person an empty spot remains and people sentenced to
death leave this spot behind earlier than was intended by their own fate. Don´t you agree that
prematurely missing things are sort of aesthetic flaws? A smile with a missing tooth, missing
pages in a book, stolen paintings…
The collection Sentenced to Death by Borek Sipek and his fellow artists refutes the established
and accepted idea of the death penalty – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In place of
several executed persons from the near or distant past it brings back to the world glass vases
inspired by their life stories. It is an effort to fill at least some of the empty seats that these
people left behind. It is an effort to draw attention to the unnatural, possibly deadly chill
which always blows through these empty spaces. And perhaps the vases will say one more
important thing. Oh yes, they were beautiful and sparkling people those who inspired the
collection bearing a grim name, those who were sentenced to death.
Socrates, who corrupted youth by thinking, Ann Boleyn, who trusted love too much, Jan
Jessenius, the scientist in non-scientific times, Qiu Jin, who found female feet prettier without
the signs of torture, Mata Hari, who was too good of a dancer, the duo of Italian anarchists
Sacco and Vanzeti – not even tens of testimonies saved them from the electric chair and
Solomon "Kalushi" Mahlangu, the boy who wanted to have the same rights as his judges and
his executioner.
Sentenced to Death is the latest project by the architect, designer and artist Borek Sipek and
his friends. It is collection of vases, containers of fatal fulfillment, each of which represents
a person whose life was ended by the death penalty. Emerging studies of the vases show that
separately they will be objects of remarkable beauty emanating from Sipek´s sense of visual
poetry. However, when in close proximity, the vases induce an urgent sad tone. Together they
are even more beautiful. Helplessly beautiful, helplessly, helplessly…
The project involves the artist Peter Sis, who created the visual environment of the exposition,
poet Dusan Vselicha, author of the accompanying texts, photographer Jan Hnizdo and model
Jana Dolezelova who will physically represent the executed persons.

Do you believe in vases?
Vases are like destinies. Both are vessels to be filled. The filling comes from above. At least with vases we are quite certain of this. Vases are fragile. Their surface is impermeably smooth. Their material everlasting. However, they break easily and all the damage is irreversible.
Vases, like destinies, are made to contain something. They are translucent to make that something visible. And translucent things
always seem to exist and not exist at the same time. Up close, in complete silence and concentration, we can feel the vases quiver.