What does the ground mean to us? It is part of our everyday infrastructure, and yet it usually goes unnoticed. The ground we walk on is, most of the time, simply a means of getting where we’re going. But how might we stop thinking of the ground as merely part of the journey, and start thinking of it as a network that connects us all?

kolem, a new work of asphalt art, turns an ordinary path into a space that invites you to slow down. It was created in collaboration with the City of Prague and funded by its Transport Department.

You’ll find it on the walking and cycling path around the Hostivař reservoir, in the forest park. The design for the painting was created by PRAHO! member and graphic designer Adéla Spilková. The work was completed on the 10th of July.

The theme of kolem is escape — where do we run when we need to get away for a while? And how can escaping bring us back to ourselves? Each of us answers these questions differently. Some like to get lost in the city, others in the forest, in the mountains, by the water, or on a bike. So the painting on the asphalt asks passers-by one simple question: Where do you run to?

The design draws on children’s games, combining bold colours and playful shapes with interactive elements. These invite walkers and cyclists alike to slow down, to explore and to play. The main aim of kolem  is to connect very different passers-by through something as self-evident as the path beneath their feet. We want to show that even the everyday need not be ordinary — that it can be varied, playful and introspective. Against the weight of the ground, life can be light; all it takes is a little creativity and imagination.

On the ground you’ll also find a QR code you can use to answer the questions and add your own hand to the work. The piece becomes a record and a map of the lives of those who pass through it.

See you around