“An angel has probably never been seen before.” So said the creator of this sculpture. We stand before the Corpus Angelicus. This artwork is by Stefan Milkov. Milkov created Corpus Angelicus as part of an exhibition. The exhibition shared the same name. It was held at Prague Castle in 1997.
The artist sees angels as a constant theme. This mysterious being appears in all religions. It is a positive, ecumenical symbol. Milkov shapes it and gives it various forms. He constantly retransforms it.
Corpus Angelicus is made of robust cast steel. This contrasts with the notion of an ethereal being. Angels are often seen as unknown and elusive. The sculpture could be seen as a shell of an angel. But Milkov leaves that interpretation to the viewer.
Milkov was born in Bohumín. He studied at the Secondary School of Applied Art in Uherské Hradiště. Later, he studied at the Sculpture Studio. This was at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. From 1987 to 1991, he belonged to the Tvrdohlaví group. Today, he lives and works in Prague.
Jiří David also created a sculpture called Corpus Angelicus. He also created it for the 1997 Prague Castle exhibition. David says the angel is a constant theme for him. He is enticed to shape it in different ways. David believes no one has seen an angel. But we may believe they exist in some form. This stirs his imagination.
David’s Corpus Angelicus is cast from robust steel. This contrasts with the idea of an ethereal being. It is like a shell or husk of an angel. He leaves the interpretation to the viewer.
David’s work often uses fragmented images. He uses symbols. He also uses media images. These images can be existential, intimate, and horrifying. They can also be historical, artistic, banal, or vulgar. David connects everything. Meanings multiply, disappear, and flow. His art comes from postmodern discourse. This reflects different layers of presence. Over the years, David’s work has diversified. He uses many techniques. Besides paintings and drawings, he uses photography. He also creates objects and installations. More recently, he has created glass vases. In any medium, his aesthetic tries to warp established rules of beauty.
The artist hopes Corpus Angelicus brings joy to people. He hopes it gives them reason to pause and think. Take a moment to reflect on this artwork now. What does the Corpus Angelicus mean to you?