The memorial to Zdeněk Kopal (1914-1993), a significant astronomer and astrophysicist born in Litomyšl, is exceptional in that it does not deal directly with the person to whom it is dedicated. Its main motif is Kopal's central research topic – the properties and development of closely neighbouring stars or close binary systems. The memorial was intentionally located in an open space next to a panel-built block of flats in Havlčkova Street, as it was here that Kopal's family home used to stand. Its layout is indicated, at least symbolically, by a channel set into the paving, into which the designers of the memorial have inserted an illuminated display through which a text “flows”, telling the scientist's life story. However, the original “flowing” text was damaged during the flood of 2009 and has been replaced with a static one.
The designers, Frederico Díaz and Marian Karel, had the main sculpture, comprising two hollow spherical bodies symbolizing a binary star, made out of carbon-fibre. The chosen material brings the appearance of the binary star closer to the essence of today's astronomical research – correlating binary systems with black holes. The sculpture was originally at almost ground level. After being damaged in 2005, it was elevated to a height of 3.5 metres with the help of a carbon-fibre pole. Its elevation enhanced the concept of stargazing. Although the sculpture appears unobtrusive and unpretentious, it interacts with the onlooker and inspires him or her to observe it against the sky. The marking out of the perimeter of Kopal's family home serves to refresh the general awareness of the original appearance of the location.
The cooperation between the designers, the multimedia artist Federica Díaze and the glass artist Marian Karel, arose from a competition for a model for the memorial announced by Litomyšl Town Council in 2003. The competition, which stipulated that the future memorial should in some way reflect Kopal's scientific subject matter – two tear-shaped stars, one behind the other – also included designs by sculptors Arnold Bartůnek and František Janda. Federico Díaz with Marian Karel progressed to the second round of the competition in which they presented their shared design for the memorial. The memorial was then ceremonially unveiled on the 3rd of April 2004 on the eve of what would have been Zdeněk Kopal's ninetieth birthday.
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