Meet Contemporary Czech Design

May – September 2007

Czech Center New York City

The Spirit of Optimism in Czech Design

For Czechoslovakia, in the early years after 1918, the stimulating reality of a new democratic state in the middle of Europe produced a spirit of optimism. The whole world opened its doors and the young generation was full of energy and enthusiasm for learning and searching for new cultural values in design, architecture and fine arts. During the next twenty years this search extended to houses to live in, objects to live with, and to a means of communicating progressive ideas by which the next programs of modernism and functionalism were announced. A clear break with traditional rules was inevitable and the spiritual influence of pioneers of the new modern Czech design (such as Karel Teige, Ladislav Sutnar, Josef Kaplicky, Josef Capek or Frantisek Muzika) was apparent.

Almost fifty years later, in 1989, the same state found itself in a similar situation again. After the grey era of Communism, design and architecture started slowly re-forming itself from the splintered remnants of the past years. However, the gradual emergence of the country into the fast lane of the European commerce has brought with it a number of other problems. Fresh ideas and visions were feeding the growing economy with advertising, marketing, packaging and other sort of distribution rather than becoming a platform for creating new cultural values for the coming years. At that time, the youngest generation did not suffer from the weight of the memory of communist philosophy. Architects, designers and artists from this group used the new opportunities and initiated a clear and mindful link to the pre-war period programs and acted in ways which identified them as contemporary, experimental and above all Czech.

Today, another 18 years later, in 2007, the activity of those people is closely connected with the art of communication, conceptual thought and clear organization of various elements into one whole, easy to be understood by everyone and pleasing to the eye at the same time. They are well aware of the freedom in exchanging ideas with the digital and global world. They know that their work is valuable at the time of its inception, being designed for this particular time which it involuntarily documents, be it by the selection of topics, the form of means used, or the way of presentation. They are well aware of the fact that it is necessary to live in the present and to say this loudly to the outer world.

The event, Meet Contemporary Czech Design organized by the Czech Center New York offers presentations of designers who represent their own work from almost all fields of contemporary Czech design culture – furniture, glass, jewelry, product design, graphic design and accessories. But not only that, they also pay homage to the heritage of the great personalities who enriched the history in a country of Europe, small in size but great by its influence on the design culture. 
Alan Zaruba (graphic designer & design writer)

Meet Contemporary Czech Design

May – September

New York City

Ultra contemporary Czech Design will be presented for the first time in several New York venues.

“This very different exhibition will provide an interactive atmosphere in which Americans can experience Czech contemporary art in various formats.”

“Meet Contemporary Czech Design” exhibition opens on May 19th, 2007 and will run through September 12, 2007 in different locations throughout Manhattan. 

This is an opportunity to exchange ideas with these creative individuals. It is also a chance  to talk to these outstanding designers and to discover that the Czech Republic excels in more than “beer and models.” Admission to most events is free.

The exhibition covers six areas: furniture, glass, jewelry, product design, graphic design and decorative accessories.  Approximately 400 items will be on display.

“It is a unique opportunity to view imaginative artwork that is both expressive of Czech culture as well as technically complex. This very different exhibition will provide an interactive atmosphere in which Americans can experience Czech contemporary art in various formats.”

Alan Zaruba, Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague:

„The event, Meet Contemporary Czech Design organized by the Czech Center New York offers presentations of designers who represent their own work from almost all fields of contemporary Czech design culture – furniture, glass, jewelry, product design, graphic design and accessories. But not only that, they also pay homage to the heritage of the great personalities who enriched the history in a country of Europe, small in size but great by its influence on the design culture.“ 

Organized by the Czech Center New York with the cooperation of the

Prague Kolektiv, Heller Gallery, CzechTourism and Kvetna Glassworks.

The following artists are participating:

Product Design
Jakub Berdych and Maxim Velcovsky Qubus Studio www.qubus.cz
May 19-22, 2007
10:00 am– 4:00 pm

International Contemporary Furniture Fair, www.icff.com

Booth 513
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 West 34th Street

Home Electronics and Product Design
SYMBIOdesign & Jerry Koza and Blok Magazine www.symbiodesign.cz

www.blokmagazine.cz

May 23 - September 12, 2007
10:00 am—5:00 pm
Czech Center New York, www.czechcenter.com
1109 Madison Avenue @ 83rd St.

*Special Event:

Opening, May 23, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Glass and Decorative Accessories

Anna Matouskova www.chappellgallery.com

June 1-3, 2007
11:00 am—5:30 pm
Sofa NY, suite Chappell Gallery, www.sofaexpo.com
Seventh Regiment Armory
Park Avenue & 67th Street

Glass as a fine art medium
Olgoj Chorchoj, Vladka Klumparova, Stanislav Libensky, Jaroslava Brychtova, Ivan Mares, Ivana Sramkova and Ales Vasicek

www.olgojchorchoj.cz

June 2-23, 2007
11:00 am - 6:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Heller Gallery, www.hellergallery.com
420 W. 14th Street (between 9th Ave. and Washington St.)

*Special Event:
Opening: June 2, 5-7 pm

Jewelry
Eva Eisler, Pavel Opocensky and Barbora Skorpilova
Julie Artisans' Gallery, www.julieartisans.com

762 Madison Ave.  (65th. St. - 66th. St.)

Jewelry

Olgoj Chorchoj and Eva Eisler
Mossonline, www.mossonline.com

150 Greene street

Graphic Design

Ales Najbrt and Alan Zaruba, www.najbrt.cz

June 6 – 21, 2007
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Wednesday-Sunday
Prague Kolektiv, www.praguekolektiv.com

143 Front St (Jay St & Pearl St) By Subway: F train to York st.
Brooklyn

* Special Event:

Opening, June 6, 6-8 pm