We invite you to the unveiling of Trnkafon, a work by Japanese artist Yuri Suzuki.
The name Trnkafon combines the words trnka and fon—a reference to sound and voice. Trnka (Slovak for the blackthorn plant) is also linked to one of the proposed etymological origins of the name Trenčín. The artist was fascinated by the coincidence that tracing the city’s name back through linguistic evolution leads all the way to the name of this plant.
Trnkafon draws directly from this connection. The installation can be envisioned as a fictional sound-plant native to Trenčín—an unknown organism growing out of the city itself, whose branches and flowers transmit sounds and voices instead of bearing fruit.
Just as a plant responds to its environment, this sculpture comes to life through the people nearby—listening, speaking, and collectively creating the city’s ever-changing soundscape.
Trnkafon is both an imaginary species and a playful portrait of Trenčín: something rooted in the local setting, yet constantly growing through sound, interaction, and shared participation.
