The atelier of sculptor Wichterlová will be taken over by the municipality, decided Prague 1

Prague - The representatives of Prague 1 approved the takeover of the land with the studio of sculptor Hana Wichterlová in Malá Strana by the Prague City Hall. Until now, it was managed by the local district. Under the management of the Gallery of the Capital City, an exhibition recalling the life and work of the renowned sculptor is to be established in the monument-protected building. She lived there for 50 years and passed away there in 1990.

The preservation of the studio became a subject of public discussion after the former leadership of Prague 1, led by Oldřich Lomecký (formerly of TOP 09), announced plans to sell the entire building along with the garden house. After criticism, they backed down; the previous city council then approved a resolution expressing interest in taking over and restoring the monument. The current leadership of Prague intends to continue with the plan.

"For many years, this property has been deteriorating, and there is a plan from the capital city to utilize it in a way that has a cultural impact, I dare say, across the whole republic," stated today Prague 1 councilor Vladan Brož (Prague 1 for Itself). He added that a necessary multi-million investment will also revert to the capital.

According to Brož, Prague 1 is currently negotiating with the city hall about a memorandum, which will include the condition of preserving the studio and making it accessible to the public. In addition to the works of the sculptor, the new exhibition could also feature sculptures by her husband Bedřich Stefan.

After the city takes over the studio, the Gallery of the Capital City should manage the new exhibition, planning to maintain the existing interior design to show how the artist lived and created. The exhibition could then be complemented by other short-term shows.

Today’s council meeting was attended by the sculptor's great-niece, Marie Wichterlová, who, along with other family members, has been trying to make the studio accessible to the public for some time. The family lost access to the house in 2016 when Prague 1 terminated their lease. Although Wichterlová welcomes today’s step from Prague 1, she pointed out that the project is still in its early stages, and negotiations between the district, city hall, and gallery will follow. "We hope this can be managed within this electoral term because we do not want to go back to the beginning," she stated.

She added that the original furnishings of the studio, including the sculptures, have been preserved. "Our family has decided to donate the furnishings of the studio, including the works of art, to the Gallery of the Capital City on the condition that the studio will be respectfully reconstructed and made accessible to the public," Wichterlová said. She added that the restoration to its original state should also include the garden, where the famous works were created and which was an integral part of the studio. The design of the garden was proposed by the sculptor's sister, who was a landscape architect.

Hana Wichterlová was one of the most significant interwar sculptors. Her brother was chemist Otto Wichterle. The now dilapidated Malá Strana studio and adjacent garden were among the favorite meeting places for Czech artists and intellectuals.