Neighbouring Trenčín a European Capital of Culture in 2026

Zero is an interactive audiovisual work by architect Alan Prekop and stands in Trenčín’s M.R. Štefánik Park. The evening’s audiovisual experience came in the form of video mapping directly on the Váh River by artist Boris Vitázek.

The work entitled “Zero” is no ordinary monument. It is a vertical structure with interactive light and sound elements that responds sensitively to its surroundings while reflecting the city itself. As Prekop explains: “The object breathes, flashes and waits. The countdown is not just a function here but becomes a place where the present meets the future.”

The visual language of the work plays with the contrast between reflection and disappearance. Mirrored surfaces reflect the city and its details but at the same time, at certain angles, they allow the object to blend in with its surroundings. Its base is a concrete ring filled with soil and perennials, a gesture symbolizing that culture is not just a decoration of the city but its foundation. Plants that need time to take root are a reminder that the values cultivated by culture also mature gradually.

The countdown clock consists of 24 LED panels onto which video recordings of everyday moments in the life of the city are projected, for example shop windows opening, boats sailing on the Váh River or bread being delivered. The video was created by Emma Lea Nikodýmová (camera), Adam Kubala (editing) and Juraj Marikovič (music). The lighting elements are designed with the biodiversity of the city park in mind. The wavelength of light used is gentle on nocturnal insects, birds and small animals, thus preserving the natural rhythm of nature.

Visitors can also interactively control the object using a QR code that allows them to change the intensity of the light. When the countdown reaches zero, the object will not disappear but will instead take on a new function. It will welcome visitors, provide information and continue to serve the city, no longer as a symbol of anticipation but as an active part of the cultural year 2026.

Multimedia artist Boris Vitázek, originally from Trenčín, has created a new work especially for this location – a laser projection with music based on the well-known folk song “Trenčín dolinečka”. Friday’s program moved to Lodenica near the Fiesta Bridge for the multimedia show. This was a visual interpretation of the folk song with a gentle, poetic and melancholic touch. The laser projection, floral motifs and accompanying music created a powerful atmosphere that could be perceived from various locations – from the bridge and from the shipyard grounds.

Vitázek said: “I was interested in how a traditional motif could be transformed into a form that would be personal and at the same time understandable to everyone. It is not folklore in the classical sense but a memory; a quiet feeling that we carry within us.”

The Counting Down to the Future event connected public space with art and discussion. The program began with a guided tour of the Enchanted Bratislava exhibition by artist Filip Bielek at the FOR MAAT gallery. This was followed by a discussion on the transformations and possibilities of urban space, with the participation of Omar Mirza (city curator), Renáta Kaščáková (co-author of the Trenčín si ty zoning plan), and Katarína Onderková (architect, Spolka – creating sustainable cities). The discussion was moderated by Stanislav Krajči, director of the Trenčín 2026 project. (Trenčín si ty translates as Trenčín is you.)

Krajči said: “We want to open a public discussion about how Trenčín is changing, how its space, identity and cultural infrastructure are transforming. The year 2026 will be the culmination of a long-term process, which includes meetings with the public like this one.”

The program continued with a paid event organised by the Hviezda Cultural and Creative Center called .DAT – Audiovisual Creation Day. The main star of the evening was the band Berlin Manson, which presented its audiovisual concept prepared especially for .DAT. The visual aspect of the KKC Hviezda space was handled by lighting designer Sedemminút. The program was opened by Boris Vitázek with his audiovisual work Narrative Absence.