Kolín opened a city gallery designed by David Vávra

Kolín - Respect for the original architecture of Jindřich Freiwald, which he "dusts off with a fine brush." This is how architect and actor David Vávra characterized his approach to the design of the city gallery, which was opened today in the Kolín theater. The reconstructed spaces of the former acting rehearsal room offered the first visitors an overview of the works of the Impressionist landscape painter and Kolín native Václav Radimský.
     The famous Prague architect Freiwald is responsible for a number of buildings in Kolín, including the theater. Vávra sought to ensure that his intervention was not visible and that it did not disturb Freiwald's idea of a light spiritual gallery. "The hardest thing was not to show off. To serve. The greatest enemy of the architect is the idea," Vávra told reporters about his two-month work on the project. "Since David and I have known each other for years, this has impacted our collaboration, which was very easy. We can agree very quickly," described the relationship between the investor and architect theater director Luboš Růžička.
     Vávra, known to most people from the theater environment Sklep, films, and television, has a wide range of work as an architect - from restaurant and bar interiors to new family house constructions and extensive renovations of larger buildings. Recently, he designed, for example, the yet-to-be-realized reconstruction of the Kladno theater and is also responsible for a study of the planned renovation of the Kutná Hora brewery, which was left by the Heineken company. However, there are currently no funds for the project. "I just sent out an inspirational arrow and I'm waiting to see if someone waves it," Vávra stated regarding his activities in Kutná Hora.
     Building the Kolín gallery required 3.5 million crowns, with costs shared by both the theater and the city. According to Růžička, Freiwald referred to the spaces of today's gallery as an exhibition hall. "Because it is not a gallery in the true sense of the word, as it does not have collection activity," he noted.
     Visitors can see an exhibition of 35 paintings by Radimský, who was a student of the famous French painter Claude Monet, until June 23. The curator had ordered 40 works, but not everything fit. "Radimský needs a little distance; he needs his space, so it was positioned only within the existing walls," explained Růžička.
     However, according to him, the space can be easily divided using mobile panels. "We definitely expect that another artist will exhibit in much larger space," said the director. According to him, Radimský's exhibition "Melancholy" will be followed in September by an exhibition of works by contemporary artist Josef Achrer.
     The Kolín theater aims to open a theater club at the end of September, which would provide a venue for both actors and audiences. The renovation of the basement will require around 12 million crowns. "It will be one big center for everyone who comes to the theater," noted Růžička.