Hundreds of people on guided tours
The exhibition of work by Zdeněk Sýkora, an icon of the 1960s and 70s although he never exhibited in Czechoslovakia, as it then was, has attracted thousands of visitors. “On 25th February a curator’s guided tour was conducted, with Pavel Kappel and Lenka Sýkorová, the wife of Zdeněk Sýkora. A hundred people came to this tour alone,” said Petra Hoftichová of CGP. The next tour will take place on Thursday 1st April at 5pm.
Mucha was very popular in Europe
A total of 350,000 art lovers saw three retrospective exhibitions of the work of Alphonse Mucha. “Curators, renowned institutions and collectors, including the family, combined their efforts to present this important artist not only in terms of his graphic work and drawings, but also as an equally accomplished painter and creator of artwork and illustrations as well as excellent works in the field of design,” explained Michaela Moučková, gallery spokesperson.
Only 2 paintings from the Epic
The first exhibition took place in the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna, then came another version in the Fabre Museum in Montpellier, and finally Mucha’s works were exhibited in the Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung in Munich. The whole exhibition project also included the loan of two paintings from the Slav Epic collection, which are in the care of the City Gallery Prague. After complicated transfer the complete Epic can again be seen in Moravský Krumlov.
The Japanese want the whole Epic
Since the 1950s, when the world rediscovered Art Nouveau, Mucha’s works have been the centre of attention. It is, therefore, not surprising that one of the biggest cultural institutions in Japan, NHK Promotions (involved in organising exhibitions, theatre performances and congresses), want to exhibit the entire Slav Epic. The exhibition should take place in 2012.
First time abroad
As far as any loan is concerned this must be decided by Prague City Council. If it does in fact come to this, it will be the first time that Mucha’s paintings have ever left the Czech Republic. However, Mucha’s grandson, John Mucha, who grew up in Prague and is now President of the Mucha Foundation, is against the idea of moving the paintings.
“The paintings should be put on display in 2012 in the most beautiful exhibition space on this planet,” said Gallery Director Milan Bufka. He pointed out that a combined exhibition of works by Vincent van Gogh and Leonardo de Vinci had already been held there and that an exhibition of Mucha’s works would raise the prestige and awareness of the Czech Republic.
The Japanese will pay for restoration
According to preliminary reports, the Japanese should also pay for restoration of about 12 parts of the huge canvases, which are once again on display as a complete collection in the Chateaux in Moravský Krumlov. The insurance cost is estimated at around 1.5 billion CZK.
Two more years
If the loan is approved it means that people still have two years to see the Epic. At the end of 2011 the paintings would then be taken from their frames, rolled up and flown to Tokyo in air-conditioned boxes. Afterwards the paintings should be returned to Prague. Where to, exactly, is still a question. Mucha’s heir doesn’t like the pavilion that has been designed, so Mucha’s paintings could even be exhibited in Veletržní Palác, where the Epic was first displayed in 1928. The Riding School of Prague Castle has also been mentioned. The new pavilion could also stand in Letná (originally there was talk of the Exhibition Grounds) on the former site of the Stalin monument.
Decision to be made in a month
The City Council will discuss the Epic in the next month and it is difficult to say what they will decide. The dilemma involves, on the one hand, a really exceptional boost to the prestige of the Czech Republic. On the other hand there is concern for an important cultural treasure.