Franz Kafka Head (Metamorphosis)

A monumental kinetic sculpture by David Černý: 42 rotating steel layers endlessly form and dissolve the face of Franz Kafka — a visual nod to his story The Metamorphosis.

The Franz Kafka Head is one of Prague's most captivating public sculptures. Czech provocateur David Černý created the monumental work in 2014 to mark the opening of the Quadrio shopping and office complex in the city centre. The silver-gleaming head is made up of 42 horizontally rotating layers of polished steel — at certain moments they align to form a clearly recognisable portrait of Kafka, only to dissolve moments later into abstract motion. The installation is also known as Metamorphosis, referencing Kafka's most famous story. A playful and philosophical centrepiece in the middle of the urban bustle.