Matyáš Chochola Transforms Frieze Sculpture 2026 with Futuristic Installations
In a striking display at Frieze Sculpture 2026, Czech artist Matyáš Chochola introduces three monumental pieces: BRUTALIST, METEOR, and MACE II, in London’s Regent’s Park. These works, available for public viewing until November 1, 2026, masterfully merge digital modeling, robotic fabrication, and handcrafted elements, creating an avant-garde dialogue of architectural fragments, classical motifs, and science fiction aesthetics.
From 18th Century Allegory to Modern Innovation
The sculptures form part of “Virtues and Vices of Our Time: 300 Years Later,” a reinterpretation of Matthias Bernard Braun’s Baroque figures. Using 3D concrete printing, developed alongside Czech firm Voxell, Chochola crafts each piece with precision. Standing three to four meters high and weighing approximately one ton, the installations integrate diverse materials including glass, bronze, and pigments, layered post-printing for intricate texture and color.
For more on how contemporary design can transform historic elements, explore how Italian Palazzo transforms with Onyx for a fresh perspective on blending the past with the present.
An Ode to Architectural and Cosmic Histories
Chochola’s trio of works at Frieze offers a vivid exploration of conceptual frameworks. BRUTALIST combines a desconstructed classical column with influences from the Memphis Group and futuristic cinema. METEOR fuses ancient architectural elements with cosmic imagery, drawing inspiration from Tomanowos, an Oregon meteorite sacred to the Chinook people. MACE II evolves from its predecessor, MACE I, embodying Brutalist aesthetics and 1980s science fiction, crafted from anthracite-tinted concrete and enhanced with metallic copper powder.
Bridging History and Contemporary Culture
Originally designed to be part of Kuks Hospital’s grandeur in eastern Bohemia, Braun’s sculptures defined a Baroque moral universe. Today, Chochola continues this lineage through reinterpretation and adaptation. Nestled within Regent’s Park’s greenery, these creations redefine public art. Curated by Fatoş Üstek, the Frieze Sculpture 2026 exhibition presents a ‘vibrant hybrid ecology,’ aligning art with its natural and cultural environment. This exhibition not only highlights Chochola’s creativity but also represents an intersection of history and contemporary art.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the theme of Matyáš Chochola’s sculptures at Frieze?
The theme is a reinterpretation of Matthias Bernard Braun’s Baroque figures, merging architectural fragments, classical motifs, and science fiction aesthetics in the exhibition ‘Virtues and Vices of Our Time: 300 Years Later.’
What materials are used in the sculptures at Regent’s Park?
The sculptures are crafted using 3D concrete printing with materials like glass, bronze, and pigments, layered post-printing for intricate texture and color.
Who curated the Frieze Sculpture 2026 exhibition?
The exhibition was curated by Fatoş Üstek, presenting a ‘vibrant hybrid ecology’ by aligning art with its natural and cultural environment.