The Czech Centres Present the Collections of the National Gallery Prague to the World

Joint press release of the Czech Centres and the National Gallery Prague, 6 April 2021

The series aims at attracting the attention of broad international audiences. The organizers are planning to present one sequel per week on their respective communication platforms. The first part will be released on the CC and NGP websites on 6 May, followed by one sequel every Thursday. The series will introduce, among others, a valuable panel painting dating back to Emperor Charles IV´s reign, Emperor Rudolph II´s favourite works and artists, and internationally renowned Czech artists who lived at the end of the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century. The initial request from the Czech Centres Seoul and Tokyo was granted by including certain topics in the selection: the japonismein Emil Orlik’s work and the work of Alfons Mucha, so popular in Asia. As a partner of the project, the NGP was in charge of the entire curatorial concept and the realization of the videos directed by Marco Chiodi. Chiodi studied visual arts at a university in Venice and spent long periods of time working in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Besides the NGP, Chiodi also cooperates with the Ballet and Opera Ensembles of the National Theatre in Prague and with the Italian Cultural Institute.

Alicja Knast, General director, NATIONAL GALLERY PRAGUE:
“These short sequels are not mere presentations of the diversity of the NGP collections, but also a journey through space and time, without any limitations imposed on us by the COVID-19 related restrictions. I believe we shall inspire spectators from all over the world to expand their knowledge of Czech art and invite them to Prague once it is possible again.”

ONDŘEJ ČERNÝ, GENERAL DIRECTOR, CZECH CENTRES: “The collections of the National Gallery Prague are an exceptionally rich fount of unique artifacts of, among others, Czech and Central-European visual arts from across the centuries. I am pleased that thanks to this project we can present it by means of social networks, for example, in the USA, Israel, Belgium, Austria, Greece, and in modified versions in France, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Next to the English version, several other language options will be available.”

VERONIKA WOLF, ART HISTORIAN, NATIONAL GALLERY PRAGUE: “Our crucial task was to conceive the content in a form that is accessible and comprehensible to audiences with different cultural backgrounds, traditions, and customs, while retaining a certain depth and precise information. It was sometimes a tough nut to crack, I admit.”

MICHAELA LEE, DIRECTOR OF THE CZECH CENTRE SEOUL: “We expect our joint project to arouse interest of the Korean public. Its aim is not merely to introduce the history of Czech visual arts abroad, but to present our country in a broader context as an important centre of European art.”

Beginning mid-May, individual sequels will be first released on social networks in the Czech Republic, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. During the summer and autumn, other countries in which the Czech Centres are based will join – specifically Athens, Brussels, Kiev, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rotterdam, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv – Jerusalem, Tokyo, and Vienna.

The videos will be also available on theCzech Centres’ websites and social networks – every Thursday until mid-July, one sequel after another will be released on Facebook @ceskacentra, @NGPrague, and Youtube Národní galerie Praha. The story of Charles IV opens the series.

Project Highlights from the National Gallery Prague introduces these artworks:

1) Emperor Charles IV and The Votive Panel of Jan Očko of Vlašim

2) Albrecht Dürer, Feast of the Rose Garlands

3) Artists of Emperor Rudolph II’s era – Roelandt Savery, Paradise

4) Karel Škréta, Portrait of the Gem-Cutter Dionysius Miseroni and His Family

5) Petr Brandl, Simeon with the Infant Jesus

6) The French Collectinon and Auguste Renior, Lovers

7) Gustav Klimt, Virgin

8) Alfons Mucha, Gismonda

9) František Kupka, Amorpha, Fugue in Two Colours; Ballad (Joys of Life)

10) Toyen, Summer; Horror

11) Japonisme in Czech art and Emil Orlik, Model

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• The press release can be downloaded below