Archive: Culture | Arts Arts
Graphic (but not by) design - Jiri Votruba
If you've ever set foot in a Prague souvenir shop, then you know the work
of Jiri Votruba. An architect by training, a painter and illustrator out
of love, and a celebrated -- yet somewhat reluctant -- graphic designer by
providence, Votruba's work is seemingly everywhere. His often humorous
images depicting the sights of the Czech capital and its famous sons, in
particular Franz Kafka, adorn countless postcards, tee-shirts, and coffee
mugs. We
caught up with the artist in his studio this week to hear about his latest
projects, and began by asking him how he got his start. More
Eva Svankmajerova: 1940 - 2005
The Czech Republic lost one of its finest artists this week, Eva
Svankmajerova: writer, painter, and Surrealist artistic collaborator with
her husband Jan on numerous mixed live-action/stop animation films
including the award-winning "Little Otik" in 2000. Over
forty-five years Eva and Jan Svankmajer became inseparable on the Czech
arts scene. They collaborated on deeply visceral works that echoed the
darkness of totalitarian life as well as life in general, hiding and
subsequently revealing surfaces beneath surfaces: sexuality, corruption,
hidden violence, and sporadic beauty. More
19th century photos of Prague Castle reflect early days of art of photography
Prague Castle dominates the sky-line of the Czech capital and is one of the
most potent symbols of this country's culture and history. A new
exhibition, at the Castle, features haunting and intriguing photographs of
the former seat of Czech kings - from the days when the art of photography
was very much in its infancy.
More
100 Czech Design Icons - "the key to the nation's memory"
100 Czech Design Icons is the title of a remarkable exhibition which has
just got underway in Prague. It features an extremely broad range of Czech
design classics, from a Cubist clock made by Josef Gocar in 1912 to
colourful 1970s inflatable animals. More
Annual festival bringing design closer to public
The focus is on design this week in Prague, as the annual Designblok
festival showcases both Czech and international furniture, accessories
and fashion at a host of venues around the city. The centre of activities
is a disused factory in the district of Karlin, which has been converted
into a huge and very colourful temporary gallery. Just before the official
opening on Monday evening, I asked organiser Jana Zielinski what was the
aim of the Designblok festival. More
Daria In and Out - the life of a Czech prima ballerina presented both on and off-stage
Prima ballerina Daria Klimentova is undoubtedly one of the most popular
Czech dancers ever, with an impressive career in the Prague National
Theatre Ballet, the Cape Ballet Company in Cape Town, the Scottish Ballet
in Glasgow, and since 1996 the English National Ballet. On Tuesday, an
exhibition of 60 photographs opened to the public in the foyer of the
Albert Hall that depicts her career both on and off stage.
More
