The facade of Jurkovič's villa will be adorned with a depressing mosaic

Brno - The façade of the rare Jurkovič villa in Brno will be adorned with a mosaic by contemporary Czech artist Josef Bolf after the completion of a comprehensive reconstruction. The painter, whose urgent works are inspired by comics, fantasy, and computer games, won a prestigious competition. This was announced to reporters today by representatives from the Moravian Gallery. According to director Marek Pokorný, the gallery aims to gradually incorporate some reflection of contemporary art into all of its historic buildings.
    The Jurkovič villa was once decorated with a glass mosaic by Adolf Kašpar, a painter and graphic artist known for illustrations to Božena Němcová's "The Grandmother." The mosaic depicted a scene from the fairy tale "The Shepherd and the Dragon" but has not survived. It likely disappeared during World War I. Art historians do not have detailed plans or quality photographic documentation, only a sketch. "Therefore, the gallery abandoned the creation of an inauthentic replica and decided on a work by a contemporary artist," said Pokorný.
    The artists received the same brief as Kašpar did over 100 years ago - a fairy tale based on Slovak folklore captured by Němcová under the title "O Bačovi a Šarkanovi." Three of the five invited artists submitted competition proposals.
    Bolf's proposal, executed in typical dark tones, ultimately adhered best to the fairy tale theme, according to gallery representatives. Moreover, Bolf managed to work with the scale of the villa; his design was closest to Kašpar's conception while being original and contemporary, even though it may appear depressing. "Even that fairy tale is not an idyll; it has its dark layers," said Pokorný. The gallery plans to install the mosaic in the summer.
    The reconstruction of the Jurkovič villa began last October. After the completion of the work, costing 35 million CZK, an exhibition and study center dedicated to the work of architect Dušan Samo Jurkovič will be established in the villa. The reconstruction includes repairing the roof, façade, wooden constructions, and windows. Wood is one of the main building materials of the villa. Workers had to make numerous interventions in the basement and the foundations of the villa. Most of the funding for the reconstruction was obtained from so-called Norwegian funds.
    Architect Jurkovič built the villa in Brno-Žabovřesky in 1906 for his own use. However, he lived in it only briefly. It was then inhabited by private owners who made several partial modifications. Most of the interventions can be reversed. The Moravian Gallery purchased the building in 2006 for 15 million CZK. The building is valuable for how it blends Art Nouveau and other modern styles with the tradition of folk architecture. Gallery representatives anticipate that the villa will be restored by the end of 2010.
    Jurkovič, who lived from 1868 to 1947, is one of the most important architects who worked in the Czech lands at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. His famous works include buildings in the Beskids at Pustevny, spa facilities in Luhačovice, and alterations to the castle in Nové Město nad Metují.