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MeetFactory, o. p. s.
Ke Sklárně 3213/15
150 00 Praha 5
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50.053653
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Opening hours:
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Press Release/ MeetFactory Gallery/ CZECH POPE
MEETFACTORY
GALLERY
presents the exhibition
CZECH POPE
Ewa Axelrad (PL), Ada Kaczmarczyk (PL), Bartosz Kokosiński (PL),
Mateusz Okoński (PL), Jakub Woynarowski (PL)
Curators: Piotr Sikora, Piotr Zdybal P
Production: Venuše Tesnerová
Opening: 5. 2. 2014, 7pm
Exhibition duration: 5. 2. – 16. 3. 2014
MeetFactory presents an exhibition based on an irrational misunderstanding stemming from bringing together the head of the Catholic Church with Europe’s most unreligious nation. On February 5th, five Polish artists will present to the Czechs their prophecy and precious gift: a Czech Pope.
In their intermedia works, Ewa Axelrad, Ada Kaczmarczyk, Bartosz Kokosiński, Mateusz Okoński and Jakub Woynarowski address the motifs of faith, religiousness and their obedient daughters: spiritualism and occultism.Through a unique curatorial concept created by Piotr Sikora and Piotr Zdybal, the MeetFactory Gallery will be transformed into the form of an imaginary church. This metamorphosis works not only to question religion but also materiality and contemporary culture, as many of the artists address religious themes, but visually portray them through the use of recognizable profane objects.
The prerogative of Czech Pope is to bring together two nations with very different views on the sacred. In the eyes of several up-and-coming Polish artists, the question of religion, belief and spirituality is as fallible as it is precious. However, what does this mean for Czechs, who find themselves in a more open-ended system of values? Is the idea just a strange novelty? If anything it bears the question, what do you believe in?
The dichotomy between Czech and Polish spirituality is great. Over 90% of Poles practice Roman Catholicism. When asked, however, one may receive a litany of different answers from Czechs about their beliefs.
“It’s a hard question for almost everyone in this country I think. Personally, I think I am agnostic, with some philosophical reserves” answered a Czech writer and critic.
When asked about her opinion on the existence of an afterlife and what might happen to her when she passes, a recent graduate student answered, “I will have a funeral, and no idea more.”
The striking disparity between each Czech person’s point of view seems to be what the Polish admire most. “Polish perspective on Czech culture is marked by a fascination with a foreign tradition, wonderful liberalism, and liberated individualism.” Says Piotr Sikora, one of the curators. So, while the Polish artists offer to the Czechs something that is both sacred and controversial for them, how will Czechs react? Perhaps this exhibition will allow them to have a ‘religious experience’, but with contemporary art.
------------------------------
Voluntary admission fee
Additional guided tours or workshops for schools or other groups are available upon request.
Exhibiting artists: Ewa Axelrad - www.ewa-axelrad.com
Ada Karczmarczyk - http://adakarczmarczyk.blogspot.com; http://www.youtube.com/user/AdaKarczmarczyk
Bartosz Kokosiński - www.bartoszkokosinski.com
Mateusz Okoński - http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2012/04/ostatnia-pochwa.html; http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2012/04/40-i-p-fotorelacja.html; http://zbiornikkultury.blogspot.com/2011/07/litania-wystawa-mateusza-okonskiego.html; http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2010/09/quadratum-nigrum-theatro-publice.htmlJakub Woynarowski - http://wernalina.blogspot.com
Contacts and more info:
Petr Hrubeš - PR and marketing / petr@meetfactory.cz / 602 367 552
Karina Pfeiffer Kottová – curator / karina@meetfactory.cz / 732 464 434
MeetFactory is supported by a grant from the City of Prague amounting to 6.500.000 CZK for the year 2014.
In collaboration with Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (MOS), with kind support from the Polish Institute in Prague.
presents the exhibition
CZECH POPE
Ewa Axelrad (PL), Ada Kaczmarczyk (PL), Bartosz Kokosiński (PL),
Mateusz Okoński (PL), Jakub Woynarowski (PL)
Curators: Piotr Sikora, Piotr Zdybal P
Production: Venuše Tesnerová
Opening: 5. 2. 2014, 7pm
Exhibition duration: 5. 2. – 16. 3. 2014
MeetFactory presents an exhibition based on an irrational misunderstanding stemming from bringing together the head of the Catholic Church with Europe’s most unreligious nation. On February 5th, five Polish artists will present to the Czechs their prophecy and precious gift: a Czech Pope.
In their intermedia works, Ewa Axelrad, Ada Kaczmarczyk, Bartosz Kokosiński, Mateusz Okoński and Jakub Woynarowski address the motifs of faith, religiousness and their obedient daughters: spiritualism and occultism.Through a unique curatorial concept created by Piotr Sikora and Piotr Zdybal, the MeetFactory Gallery will be transformed into the form of an imaginary church. This metamorphosis works not only to question religion but also materiality and contemporary culture, as many of the artists address religious themes, but visually portray them through the use of recognizable profane objects.
The prerogative of Czech Pope is to bring together two nations with very different views on the sacred. In the eyes of several up-and-coming Polish artists, the question of religion, belief and spirituality is as fallible as it is precious. However, what does this mean for Czechs, who find themselves in a more open-ended system of values? Is the idea just a strange novelty? If anything it bears the question, what do you believe in?
The dichotomy between Czech and Polish spirituality is great. Over 90% of Poles practice Roman Catholicism. When asked, however, one may receive a litany of different answers from Czechs about their beliefs.
“It’s a hard question for almost everyone in this country I think. Personally, I think I am agnostic, with some philosophical reserves” answered a Czech writer and critic.
When asked about her opinion on the existence of an afterlife and what might happen to her when she passes, a recent graduate student answered, “I will have a funeral, and no idea more.”
The striking disparity between each Czech person’s point of view seems to be what the Polish admire most. “Polish perspective on Czech culture is marked by a fascination with a foreign tradition, wonderful liberalism, and liberated individualism.” Says Piotr Sikora, one of the curators. So, while the Polish artists offer to the Czechs something that is both sacred and controversial for them, how will Czechs react? Perhaps this exhibition will allow them to have a ‘religious experience’, but with contemporary art.
------------------------------
Voluntary admission fee
Additional guided tours or workshops for schools or other groups are available upon request.
Exhibiting artists: Ewa Axelrad - www.ewa-axelrad.com
Ada Karczmarczyk - http://adakarczmarczyk.blogspot.com; http://www.youtube.com/user/AdaKarczmarczyk
Bartosz Kokosiński - www.bartoszkokosinski.com
Mateusz Okoński - http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2012/04/ostatnia-pochwa.html; http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2012/04/40-i-p-fotorelacja.html; http://zbiornikkultury.blogspot.com/2011/07/litania-wystawa-mateusza-okonskiego.html; http://strupek-microart.blogspot.com/2010/09/quadratum-nigrum-theatro-publice.htmlJakub Woynarowski - http://wernalina.blogspot.com
Contacts and more info:
Petr Hrubeš - PR and marketing / petr@meetfactory.cz / 602 367 552
Karina Pfeiffer Kottová – curator / karina@meetfactory.cz / 732 464 434
MeetFactory is supported by a grant from the City of Prague amounting to 6.500.000 CZK for the year 2014.
In collaboration with Małopolski Ogród Sztuki (MOS), with kind support from the Polish Institute in Prague.
© MeetFactory o.p.s.
MeetFactory is supported in 2024 by a grant from the City of Prague amounting to 12.000.000 CZK.
Web MeetFactory podléhá licenci Creative Commons