Vinok

Vinok is a striking wire sculpture by Czech artist Veronika Psotková suspended above Dlouhá Street outside NoD Gallery. This powerful installation is not just an artwork. It is a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and protest, created in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

It takes its name from the traditional Ukrainian flower wreath (вінок) – a symbol whose meaning has evolved from pagan ritual to national identity.

The inspiration struck Veronika during the war’s early days, as she saw images of Ukrainian women wearing these traditional flower crowns. What emerged is a piece that NoD Gallery curator Pavel Kubesa describes as “inherently ambiguous – beautiful and terrifying simultaneously.”

Unlike traditional statues, Vinok is almost ethereal, made from interconnected steel wires that form a delicate yet haunting silhouette. It honors Ukrainian women and mothers suffering under Russian aggression, while serving as the artist’s protest against the ongoing war.

As the tenth installation in NoD’s series addressing current social, political or environmental issues, it stands as a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine. Floating above the street, it compels passersby to pause and reflect.