Hřbitov bez hrobů; pietní biocentrum?
Cemeteries can get by without graves. Will they be replaced by memorial biocenters?
Architect Blanka Solár deals with the undignified system of burial. As part of her diploma work at the Faculty of Architecture VUT, she designed a cemetery without graves. She combined her interest with the association Poslední stopa z.s. and is trying to open the sensitive topic of burial in the context of big business and legislation. The exhibition Cemetery without Graves; memorial biocenter? reveals the confessions of a gravedigger and an employee of a crematorium, demonstrating contemporary possibilities of sustainable burial. The exhibition is on display at the Mini Gallery in Brno at the Faculty of Architecture VUT from October 10 to 26, 2023. The vernissage will include a discussion with the author of the exhibition, gravedigger Adam Vokáč, and ecologist Vilém Jurek. The exhibition is an audiovisual confrontation of images of the vision of a "cemetery of the future" (bio-diverse composed landscape, a place that is alive) by architect Blanka Solár and the critical inner voice of a gravedigger and crematorium employee, conveyed through the audio narrative of Adam Vokáč. He highlights the reality of the current funeral industry, presenting legislative limitations regarding the choice of our last traces.
Over 100 years after the legalization of cremation, and due to industrial reactions to the problem of burying growing urban populations, the topic requires critical revision. The exhibition invites reflection on this issue and allows one to add their signature to a petition for free and sustainable funerals, issued by the association Poslední stopa z.s.
The memorial biocenter is a vision of the 21st-century cemetery. The follow-up to the diploma project Projective Space; Cemetery without Graves at FA VUT in Brno 2020 (studio Kristek-Sedlák) refers structurally and operationally to two areas: the issue of biocenters and their maintenance in the Czech cultural landscape, and on the other hand, the ongoing debate about the liberalization of funeral law and updating the funeral industry in the Czech Republic, which advocates modern, generally more ecological/sustainable approaches already available abroad - particularly composting human bodies, the so-called “terramation” (Germany, USA). The vernissage will be accompanied by a discussion featuring Blanka Solár, gravedigger Adam Vokáč, and ecologist and landscape engineer Vilém Jurek at 18:00 on October 10, 2023, at the Mini Gallery in Brno, and will be available until October 26, 2023. A follow-up discussion and exhibition will also take place on November 13, 2023, from 18:00 at the Funeral Atelier on Vinohradská 161, in Prague - Strašnice.
Blanka Solár (*1994) graduated from the Faculty of Architecture VUT in Brno and completed a one-year postgraduate course at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She is the founding architect of the bams office studio and the initiative Cemetery of No Graves, aimed at connecting relevant professionals and raising awareness about the topic of memorial biocenters. Since 2023, she has been a member of the association Poslední stopa z.s. Currently, she is engaged in her own architectural practice, creative production, and activism related to natural funerals.
Adam Vokáč (*1997) is a gravedigger and manager of Luční Cemetery at Ďáblice Cemetery in Prague. He completed the American Green Burial Masterclass course and subsequently founded the association Poslední stopa, which focuses specifically on natural funerals. Through his work, he spreads awareness about new possibilities in funerals and aims for their general and legislative acceptance.
Vilém Jurek (*1985) graduated from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at Mendel University in Brno, specializing in Landscape Engineering. He is an ecologist and a promoter of environmental protection and has been a long-time employee of the non-profit organization Rezekvítek for nature care.
Images and graphics: Blanka Solár
Audio narratives: Adam Vokáč
Expert consultation: Rostislav Koryčánek
Acknowledgements: Adéla Šoborová, Jan Kristek, Dana Sítarová, Karolína Munková, Klára Netrefová, Ludmila Jankovichová
The audio component of the installation is technically provided and sponsored by Harangi Sound s.r.o. Large-format printing is sponsored by SRP s.r.o.
Architect Blanka Solár deals with the undignified system of burial. As part of her diploma work at the Faculty of Architecture VUT, she designed a cemetery without graves. She combined her interest with the association Poslední stopa z.s. and is trying to open the sensitive topic of burial in the context of big business and legislation. The exhibition Cemetery without Graves; memorial biocenter? reveals the confessions of a gravedigger and an employee of a crematorium, demonstrating contemporary possibilities of sustainable burial. The exhibition is on display at the Mini Gallery in Brno at the Faculty of Architecture VUT from October 10 to 26, 2023. The vernissage will include a discussion with the author of the exhibition, gravedigger Adam Vokáč, and ecologist Vilém Jurek. The exhibition is an audiovisual confrontation of images of the vision of a "cemetery of the future" (bio-diverse composed landscape, a place that is alive) by architect Blanka Solár and the critical inner voice of a gravedigger and crematorium employee, conveyed through the audio narrative of Adam Vokáč. He highlights the reality of the current funeral industry, presenting legislative limitations regarding the choice of our last traces.
Over 100 years after the legalization of cremation, and due to industrial reactions to the problem of burying growing urban populations, the topic requires critical revision. The exhibition invites reflection on this issue and allows one to add their signature to a petition for free and sustainable funerals, issued by the association Poslední stopa z.s.
The memorial biocenter is a vision of the 21st-century cemetery. The follow-up to the diploma project Projective Space; Cemetery without Graves at FA VUT in Brno 2020 (studio Kristek-Sedlák) refers structurally and operationally to two areas: the issue of biocenters and their maintenance in the Czech cultural landscape, and on the other hand, the ongoing debate about the liberalization of funeral law and updating the funeral industry in the Czech Republic, which advocates modern, generally more ecological/sustainable approaches already available abroad - particularly composting human bodies, the so-called “terramation” (Germany, USA). The vernissage will be accompanied by a discussion featuring Blanka Solár, gravedigger Adam Vokáč, and ecologist and landscape engineer Vilém Jurek at 18:00 on October 10, 2023, at the Mini Gallery in Brno, and will be available until October 26, 2023. A follow-up discussion and exhibition will also take place on November 13, 2023, from 18:00 at the Funeral Atelier on Vinohradská 161, in Prague - Strašnice.
Blanka Solár (*1994) graduated from the Faculty of Architecture VUT in Brno and completed a one-year postgraduate course at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She is the founding architect of the bams office studio and the initiative Cemetery of No Graves, aimed at connecting relevant professionals and raising awareness about the topic of memorial biocenters. Since 2023, she has been a member of the association Poslední stopa z.s. Currently, she is engaged in her own architectural practice, creative production, and activism related to natural funerals.
Adam Vokáč (*1997) is a gravedigger and manager of Luční Cemetery at Ďáblice Cemetery in Prague. He completed the American Green Burial Masterclass course and subsequently founded the association Poslední stopa, which focuses specifically on natural funerals. Through his work, he spreads awareness about new possibilities in funerals and aims for their general and legislative acceptance.
Vilém Jurek (*1985) graduated from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at Mendel University in Brno, specializing in Landscape Engineering. He is an ecologist and a promoter of environmental protection and has been a long-time employee of the non-profit organization Rezekvítek for nature care.
Images and graphics: Blanka Solár
Audio narratives: Adam Vokáč
Expert consultation: Rostislav Koryčánek
Acknowledgements: Adéla Šoborová, Jan Kristek, Dana Sítarová, Karolína Munková, Klára Netrefová, Ludmila Jankovichová
The audio component of the installation is technically provided and sponsored by Harangi Sound s.r.o. Large-format printing is sponsored by SRP s.r.o.
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