Cube x Cube Gallery

Private Gallery Cube x Cube in Kryštof Valley
We spend the majority of our lives indoors. Often, we determine the quality of a house solely based on its external appearance. In the case of the Cube x Cube gallery, we are spared this superficial evaluation, as the building lacks a traditional outer shell, is sunk into the ground, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the unique scenography of the environment. The fact that you cannot take away an idea of the building from your visit to the gallery but can only allow the exhibition to affect you is not the only peculiarity of this project.
Kryštof Valley is situated in a picturesque valley beneath the Ještěd Ridge. The deep valley of the Rokytka stream, which once served as a smuggler's path, was originally the site of a mining settlement founded in the first half of the 16th century. Saint Christopher, the patron of mountain pathways and miners, gave his name to the settlement and to the wooden baroque church from the late 17th century. By the mid-18th century, silver mining had ceased here, and since the 19th century, it has been a sought-after romantic spot for recreation.
The village, with fewer than 350 permanent residents, is largely composed of traditional timber-framed houses, characteristic of the entire border triangle of northern Bohemia, and therefore, the village was declared a protected monument reserve in 2005. The village, with a long tradition of nativity scene crafting, also boasts the third-largest astronomical clock in the Czech Republic and one of the most romantic railway viaducts. The two hundred-meter-long arch bridge gently curves and is supported by fourteen stone pillars.
Near this technical railway monument, a private gallery was opened four years ago, completely unique in its concept, as the operators were not focused on acquiring art for investment purposes, building extensive collections, or exhibiting artworks in the manner of Kunsthalle. The short-term exhibitions here represent a unique interaction between the artist and the unconventional gallery environment.
Just as the openings are unforgettable, so too is the remarkable story of the building and the client as the ideal core of the gallery. The wealthy client transformed the former ROH recreational center behind the Novinský viaduct for his residential needs. His original architect converted a 15 x 25-meter swimming pool into a spacious garage, where the investor wanted to start collecting and repairing classic cars. At the same time, he expressed interest in wine collecting. He attended tasting courses at the well-known Liberec wine shop Decanté, through which he became acquainted with architect Petr Stolín, whom he entrusted with the design of a private wine cellar in Kryštof Valley.
Architect Stolín, in turn, often invited his client to openings at the gallery Die Aktualität des Schönen, which his brother Jan Stolín founded many years ago and still runs today. This revealed to the investor yet another fascinating world of art. He began to familiarize himself with professional artists who have long engaged with a single theme. However, he was not only interested in their finished works, but also in the thought processes and lifelong searches that are worlds apart from the commercial sphere.
After some brief contemplation, he decided to provide artists with space in his gallery for their further development. Initially, he may not have fully realized what the outcome would be, but he felt a desire to surround himself with art and share these feelings with his family and friends. Unlike other art philanthropists, he does not collect, does not build a collection, does not engage in commerce, but provides a space for quality creations to emerge for joint sharing.
Architect Petr Stolín gained the client's absolute trust, and artistic director Jan Stolín currently ensures the selection of artists and the exhibition program, including the musical component at the openings. Each year, two to three events take place in the Cube x Cube gallery from spring to autumn.
The architects made relatively few interventions in the existing structure. The exhibition space, which is 3.5 meters high, is visually expanded by an uncovered view of the one-meter-wide roof trusses. The authors retained the light gray painted walls and supplemented them with black curtains that can be removed at any time. The exhibition space has no upper lighting, relying entirely on an artificial source. Additionally, professional technical and audiovisual support enhances the spatial experience. In the center, the authors placed six white movable cubes with an edge of 2.3 meters, which artists must somehow contend with or push aside during their installation. So far, however, it has not happened that the composition of any of the exhibitions has repeated or that the cubes were not fully taken into account. The system of movable cubes allows for countless compositions and constantly new definitions of space. You can look forward to being surprised by each new exhibition, not only by the artistic installation but also by a completely new spatial composition.
The Cube x Cube gallery in Kryštof Valley maintains the spirit of Liberec hidden at the end of the road in a rainy valley. Everyone has heard of it at some point, but few know where it actually is or have even visited it themselves.