It’s Not Broken, It’s Supposed to Be Like That

Front desk staff at Four Seasons Hotel Prague are accustomed to the question “Why is there a broken vase in the lobby?” And they are happy to provide the answer: the striking 40-centimetre (16-inch) sculpture is the vision of renowned Czech artist Borek Sipek, who chose its brilliant red colour and broken state to depict the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in the late 20th century.

It’s just one of many original contemporary paintings and sculptures found throughout the Hotel, set against more traditional architectural details.