The last tree and the planet saved by children Štěpan Zavřel’s work is consistently shaped by a deep listening to Nature and a profound concern about its devastation by humankind several of his Works in particular ‘The Rediscovered Sun’, ‘The City of flowers’ and ‘The Last Tree’ explicitly address ecological themes through a clear narrative that often takes the form of a parable.
These are not didactic or moralistic stories but rather miniature myths where the realities of life are dressed in the colors of fairy tales.
They tell of how humans driven by greed or the frenzy of mindless consumerism have broken the ancient harmony with nature causing severe environmental damage. At times the sun no longer shines in their sky at times the colors disappear replaced by an oppressive greyness or hills collapse rain no longer falls and vegetation dies humans are powerless to repair the disaster and unhappiness spreads across the land until the children intervene. Only they can stop the catastrophe and guide the adults to mend the broken dialogue with the ecosystem, for children have never severed that dialogue within themselves maintaining an emotional and empathetic connection with the natural world.
Zavřel gives them a passionate message: in your small hands, children, in your awareness and determination, lies the salvation of this fragile planet.
The works displayed in the museum are executed in watercolor and pastel.