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Current AffairsModern Czech art masterpieces fetch record prices at Sotheby’s auction
More than 200 masterpieces of Czech avant-garde and modern art fetched
record prices at a Sotheby’s auction in London on Monday.
František Kupka’s early abstract Movement, created between 1913 and
1919, sold for 1.3 million pounds, the highest sum ever paid for a Czech
artwork. Monday’s auction brought 11.1 million pounds, more than double
then Sotheby’s estimated. Other significant works sold at the auction
included Josef Čapek’s Sailor and Phantomas and Sculptress in the Studio
by Emil Filla. Jan Richter spoke about the action with Czech Radio’s
reporter in the UK, Ivan Kytka. More
Current AffairsNational Gallery to be headed by economist Vladimír Rösel
The Minister of Culture, Jiří Besser, has appointed a fresh face to the
head of the Czech Republic’s National Gallery, that of economist Vladimír
Rösel. Though chosen for the position by a selection committee and praised
by the minister for having by far the best plan for leading the gallery
into the future, critics have been quick to point out his obvious drawback
– that he is neither an artist nor an art academic. What’s more, Mr
Rösel replaces a huge figure in the Czech art world, Milan Knížák, an
artist of world-renown whose 12-year tenure in the gallery has nonetheless
been speckled with mishaps and controversies. Earlier on Tuesday we spoke
with art theorist Tomáš Pospiszyl about the situation. More
ArtsDominik Lang’s The Sleeping City to go up at 54th Venice Biennale
The 54th Venice Biennale is less than a month away and the installation
representing the Czech and Slovak arts scenes at the national pavilion is
now en route. Created by Czech artist Dominik Lang and entitled The
Sleeping City, the instalation aims to challenge international viewers to
experience, assess, or revisit on an intuitive and emotional level recent
Czechoslovak and European history, from the Cold War to today. More
Talking PointNational Gallery’s Milan Knížák warns budget cuts will force gallery to opt for drastic solution: to shut down in winter months
Prague’s National Gallery, one of the country’s most respected cultural
institutions which includes a number of venues including Veletržní
palace, has, along with other state-funded organisations, been told by the
austerity government to save 15 percent of its budget next year. The cuts,
following the earlier financial crisis, are expected to hit the gallery
hard. While some steps have already been taken – a reduction in the
number of exhibitions, a cutting back on acquisitions, a lowering of the
number of staff – it is not likely to be enough. As a result, this week
gallery head Milan Knížák warned of a more drastic solution if
additional funds aren’t found. More
Current AffairsHighest state awards given to twenty-two outstanding men and women
Thursday marked the 92nd anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, and
as always on that day a group of outstanding figures received the
country’s highest honours. This year, President Václav Klaus bestowed
medals upon 22 men and women, among them heroes of the Second World War and
accomplished individuals from the worlds of science, sports and culture.
More
Current AffairsNational Gallery hosts collection of 20th century masterpieces
Many of the most famous artists of the 20th century will be in Prague as of
Wednesday, vicariously through their artworks that is, as the National
Gallery opens a major new exhibition called Monet – Warhol, showcasing
masterpieces from the Albertina Museum in Vienna. The collection of 80
paintings merely begins with Monet and ends with Andy Warhol, with multiple
works by Matisse, Magritte, Kandinsky and many more found in between.
Taking famous collections on loan from abroad has not been a common trend
in the National Gallery and I asked its director Milan Knížák if it had
been difficult to materialise.
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