BLUE INNOVATIONS

An exhibition showcasing traditional Czech blueprint and its legacy

Blueprint is a traditional Czech craft

The now-Czech Republic had been considered a textile-making superpower in the past, with the textile industry being one of the oldest and most significant contributors to the country’s economy. Since the 1950s, the Ústředí lidové umělecké výroby (The Centre for Folk Art Production), had been the producer of high-quality goods as well as the hub for modern experimental blueprint. Thanks to the unique collaboration of great artists and excellent craftsmen, the Centre produced original items using traditional techniques set into contemporary context. Such a creative approach is unique in Central Europe and might be interesting for visitors abroad.

In the 1990s, the last remaining blueprint workshops in the Czech Republic – belonging to the Danzinger and Joch families – became independent. Although they currently produce other goods as well, they follow in their ancestors’ footsteps as the staff and managers are descendants of the founders. They own and still use the moulds which were originally used for making regional folklore clothing.

Many contemporary Czech designers appreciate the high quality of handmade products, the craftsmanship and the connection to tradition. Czech blueprint offers them just that and has a great potential for further development in the hands of up-and-coming fashion designers.

The exhibition was inspired by the fact that the traditional blueprint technology had been included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The exhibition was originally intended for Central Europe including the Czech Republic, who had jointly applied (Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany) for blueprint to be recognized by UNESCO.

The aim of the exhibition is to introduce the traditional blueprint in the Czech Republic with particular focus on its unique and innovative approach which resonates with contemporary audience.

The exhibition was complemented by a catalogue, available in English here.

Organised by: the Czech Centres
Curator: Alice Klouzková http://aliceklouzkova.cz/
Graphic Design: Adam Uchytil

Architectonic Design: Lenka Míková
Photo, video: Tomáš Brabec

THE CURATOR

MgA. Alice Klouzková graduated from the Fashion Design Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. She continued to work there after graduation as an assistant at the Josef Ťapťuch’s Fashion Studio. In 2005, together with Jana Jetelová, she founded the SISTERCONSPIRACY Studio whose primary focus is original men’s fashion. Alice Klouzková has been the Head of the Fashion Design Studio at the Scholastica School for Contemporary Art since 2014. In her PhD research she focuses on traditional Czech and Moravian textile techniques and their use in contemporary fashion design, and she has published the results of her research in the Dědictví (Heritage) Project. In 2016 she published the book Dědictví. Tradice, inovace, móda. (Heritage. Tradition, Innovation, Fashion).