The exhibition "Brussels Dream of Success at Expo 58" has arrived in Brno

Brno - The exhibition "Brussels Dream," which commemorates Czechoslovak success and a unique visual style at the World Expo 58 in Brussels, can be viewed by Brno residents after its well-received premiere in Prague. The Moravian Gallery has altered and supplemented the collection and is now presenting it in the halls of the Museum of Applied Arts. In the capital, "Brussels Dream" was seen by more than 30,000 people, and gallery representatives believe it will become a visitor magnet in South Moravia as well.
    Compared to Prague, the Brno exhibition is more focused on period graphic design and photography, which are specialties of the Moravian Gallery, as well as architecture, curator Marta Sylvestrová told ČTK today. The Brussels style significantly influenced the construction and furnishings of the Continental and International hotels in Brno and parts of the city exhibition grounds.
    It has been 50 years since the Brussels World Expo, where Czechoslovakia received the main award from both professional juries and casual visitors and surprised the world with the high quality of its exhibits. "However, apart from cultural institutions, practically no one else has acknowledged this anniversary, let alone offer support," noted Moravian Gallery director Marek Pokorný.
    The full title of the Brno exhibition is "Brussels Dream - Czechoslovak Participation at the World Expo 58 in Brussels and the Lifestyle of the First Half of the 1960s." In the introductory part of the exhibition, the authors aimed to convey the atmosphere and appearance of the Czechoslovak pavilion as faithfully as possible to the visitors. This is aided by authentic exhibits that represented the country in Brussels, as well as large-format photographs, projections, and textual information.
    The second half of the exhibition focuses on the echoes of success at Expo 58 and its reflection in Czechoslovak production at the turn of the 50s and 60s. "The so-called Brussels style permeated practically all areas of visual production, applied arts, industrial and graphic design at that time. In the Brussels spirit, graphic designers even processed user manuals for household appliances," Sylvestrová described the situation.
    Those who remember will find a number of items in the exhibition that will be familiar from their childhood or youth. Curators selected, for example, the Čezeta scooter, Sonet-type tape recorders, hairdryers, mixers, furniture, glass, porcelain, textiles, and lamps with characteristic patterns and shapes.
    The exhibition has a rich accompanying program including film screenings, creative workshops, and lectures. Details can be found by interested parties on the website www.moravska-galerie.cz.