Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum
Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum
Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum
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Prague by Rumen Sazdov<br />
“Prague Mater Urbium” is one <strong>of</strong> the many attributes <strong>of</strong> this unique town in the center <strong>of</strong> Europe - for centuries, the city has been<br />
a crossroads <strong>of</strong> trade <strong>and</strong> culture, <strong>and</strong> a home <strong>of</strong> arts, architecture <strong>and</strong> crafts; truly a ‘mother <strong>of</strong> cities.’ Today its many historical<br />
sites, palaces, narrow streets, hidden corners <strong>and</strong> famous places like the Charles Bridge make this fairy-tale town one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
most romantic cities <strong>of</strong> the world.<br />
The historic centre <strong>of</strong> Prague (Hradčany, which includes Prague Castle, the Lesser Quarter, Josefov, New Town, Vyšehrad <strong>and</strong><br />
Old Town, where you’ll find the Charles Bridge) has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1992. The centre <strong>of</strong> Prague<br />
is characterized by winding alleys <strong>and</strong> buildings that show a huge variety <strong>of</strong> architectural styles – Romanesque rotundas, Gothic<br />
cathedrals, Baroque <strong>and</strong> Renaissance palaces, <strong>Art</strong> Nouveau, Classicist, Cubist <strong>and</strong> Functionalist houses <strong>and</strong> modern buildings<br />
all have their place there.<br />
Like architecture, art in all its forms can be seen in Prague. The exhibition venues include historical palaces, modern <strong>and</strong><br />
alternative spaces, transformed brownfield buildings <strong>and</strong> corporate premises.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the most debated projects <strong>of</strong> the last year was definitely the “Decadence Now - Vision <strong>of</strong> Excess” in Rudolfinum (www.<br />
galerierudolfinum.cz). Not really my cup <strong>of</strong> tea, but art has many expressions, <strong>and</strong> it is one <strong>of</strong> Prague’s strengths that it has room<br />
for all <strong>of</strong> them. One <strong>of</strong> the “in” places <strong>of</strong> today, which plays host to some <strong>of</strong> the variety the city has to <strong>of</strong>fer, is the multipurpose<br />
space DOX (www.doxprague.org).<br />
The Czechs boast many excellent painters, such as Alfons Mucha, Josef Capek, Jan Zrzavý <strong>and</strong> Emil Fila. One <strong>of</strong> my favorite<br />
artists is Frantisek Kupka, whose work can be seen together with Otto Gutfreund’s in a unique collection <strong>of</strong> modern Czech art<br />
in the Central European Modern <strong>Art</strong> collection at the Museum Kampa (www.museumkampa.com). It was founded by Mrs Meda<br />
Mladkova, whose husb<strong>and</strong>, Jan Mladek, said “If The Culture Survives, Then So Too Does The Nation” <strong>and</strong> this collection <strong>and</strong> its<br />
popularity shows not only the survival but the flourishing <strong>of</strong> national culture in Prague.<br />
For me, Prague has been a magical place for more than 22 years, <strong>and</strong> so it can be for you.<br />
117 <strong>ARTisSpectrum</strong>
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