The new building for the Slav Epic could be at Těšnov

Prague - A new exhibition hall for the Slav Epic could be located at the site of the former railway station in Prague at Těšnov. The location was selected by a city council committee, and Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) agrees with the placement. Krnáčová stated this today to ČTK. The final word will rest with the councilors. The twenty large canvases by Mucha will fly to Japan on tour in February. It is unclear whether the tour will continue to China. They are expected to return in 2018.

"The committee recommended Těšnov as the most suitable location, and I agree with that," said the mayor. According to her, the construction of exhibition spaces would cultivate and revitalize the area. "If the new home of the Slav Epic were in the places where the Těšnov station once stood, it would also contribute to the humanization of the North-South magistrate," she added. Experts have recommended that Prague announce an architectural competition. The costs and timeline for construction are not known.

In addition to Těšnov park, the committee considered locations in Letná, Vítkov, the Exhibition Grounds, Vyšehrad, and the site of the former Eliška Spa at the end of Revoluční Street. One condition set by city management is that it must be new exhibition space. Renovating some historical buildings would be lengthy and more costly, according to a study by the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), which ČTK has at its disposal.

The cycle of canvases depicting Slavic mythology is included in the list of national cultural monuments. According to the painter's legacy, the canvases belong to Prague. However, the author's wish was for the city to build a separate exhibition pavilion for the epic. This has not yet happened. In 2012, the twenty canvases were moved from the castle in Moravský Krumlov to Prague amid great media attention. They were on display at the Veletržní Palace from mid-2012 until the end of last year. Over 380,000 visitors saw it. The work is now awaiting transport. The Ministry of Culture approved the journey to Japan at the end of last year. However, not to China yet. The Asian tour has many critics. They are concerned about the potential damage to the canvases.

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