In Trenčín, the symbolic countdown to 2026 has begun, when the city will become the European Capital of Culture. On 31 October at 7 p.m., a unique object – an interactive audiovisual work by architect Alan Prekop – will be ceremoniously launched in M. R. Štefánik Park. The evening programme, entitled Counting Down the Future, will also feature a discussion on the transformation of the city, an exhibition and an audiovisual experience in the form of video mapping directly on the Váh River by artist Boris Vitázek.
Countdown as a living organism
Trenčín 2026 Countdown Clock (ZERO) is no ordinary monument. It is a vertical structure with interactive light and sound elements that reacts sensitively to its surroundings while reflecting the city itself. “The object breathes, flashes and waits. The countdown is not just a function here but becomes a place where the present meets the future,” explains the author of the work, architect Alan Prekop.
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 symbolising that culture is not just a decoration of the city, but its foundation. Plants that need time to take root remind us that the values cultivated by culture also mature gradually.
Technology in symbiosis with nature
The countdown clock consists of 24 LED panels on which video footage of everyday moments in the life of the city is projected – for example, shop windows opening, boats moving 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 control the object interactively via a QR code, which allows them to change the intensity of the light. When the countdown reaches zero, the object will not disappear. On the contrary, it will take on a new function. It will welcome visitors, provide information and continue to serve the city, albeit no longer as a symbol of anticipation, but as an active part of the cultural year 2026.
The transformation of the city through the eyes of artists and experts
The Counting Down the Future event connects public space with art and discussion. The programme will begin at 5 p.m. with a guided tour of the exhibition Enchanted Bratislava by artist Filip Bielek at the FOR MAAT gallery. This will be followed at 5:45 p.m. by a discussion “Transformations of Urban Space The discussion participants include Omar Mirza, City Curator of Trenčín; Renáta Kaščáková, regional development analyst and consultant; and Katarína Onderková (architect, Spolka), a collective of architects and sociologists focused on creating sustainable cities through participation and education. The discussion will be moderated by Stanislav Krajči, director of the Trenčín 2026 project.
“We want to open a public dialogue about how Trenčín is changing – how its space, identity and cultural infrastructure are changing. The year 2026 will be the culmination of a long-term process, which includes such meetings with the public,” says Stanislav Krajči.
Video mapping on the banks of the Váh
At 7:30 p.m., the programme will move near the Fiesta Bridge, where you will see video mapping “Trenčín dolinečka” by Boris Vitázek, a multimedia artist originally from Trenčín. It is a visual adaptation of a well-known folk song, which has a gentle, poetic and melancholic feel. Laser projection, floral motifs and accompanying music will create a powerful atmosphere that can be experienced from various locations — from the bridge and from below the shipyard.
“I was interested in how a traditional motif could be translated into an image 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 emotion that we carry within ourselves,” says Vitázek.
The evening will conclude with the .DAT festival
From 8:30 p.m., the programme will continue with a paid event organised by the Hviezda Cultural and Creative Centre under the name .DAT – Audiovisual Creation Day. The headliner of the evening will be the band Berlin Manson, which will premiere its unique audiovisual concept prepared especially for .DAT. The visual aspect of the KKC Hviezda premises will be taken care of by light designer Sedemminút. The programme will be launched by Boris Vitázek with his audiovisual work Narrative Absence.
The Counting Down the Future event combines art, architecture, public space and community life. It embodies the vision of culture as a tool that transforms the city from within, gradually, with respect, but also with courage.
