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Huge art work honoring Havel on display in Prague

Artist Lukac Gavlovsky puts the finishing touches on a 2-meter-tall wax heart Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, outside Prague’s National Theater. The installation is a public tribute to Vaclav Havel, made from 2.3 metric tons of wax from candles that were lit nationwide after the former president and dissident playwright died in December. (AP Photo/Ian Phillips)

General view of a 2-meter-tall wax heart Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, outside Prague’s National Theater. The installation is a public tribute to Vaclav Havel, made from 2.3 metric tons of wax from candles that were lit nationwide after the former president and dissident playwright died in December. (AP Photo/Ian Phillips)

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The Associated Press 4:36 PM Friday, February 10, 2012

PRAGUE — Two artists have used wax from the thousands of candles that Czechs lit to mourn the death of President Vaclav Havel to create a large heart honoring him.

Lukas Gavlovsky — whose 7-foot-tall (2 meter), multicolored art work went on display in Prague on Friday, says it is meant "to celebrate (Havel's) ideas, his greatness."

Gavlovsky created the heart with his colleague, Roman Svejda, and dozens of volunteers.

Havel, a dissident who helped his nation shed Communism, was long associated with hearts. He ended his signature with one, and when he left office in 2003 a neon sign of a heart shone from Prague Castle.

The new art work, placed in front of the National Theater, will remain there until April 10.

Havel died on Dec. 18 at age 75.

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February 10, 2012 09:32 PM EST

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