Praha epic poem will not be loaned to Japan, it will reportedly be in the Trade Fair Palace

Prague/Moravský Krumlov - Prague will not lend the Slav Epic to Japan. However, it wants to move it to the Veletržní Palace in Prague, the seat of the National Gallery in Prague, by this September. This decision was made today by the council of the capital city, as stated by councilor Ondřej Pecha (ODS) at a press conference. The council has also released 25 million crowns for the relocation and exhibition setup. The cycle of paintings by Alfons Mucha belongs to Prague, and is currently displayed at the castle in Moravský Krumlov. The loan is valid until the end of June, after which the paintings should be moved.
Pecha justified the decision by stating that the Moravský Krumlov castle is in very poor condition. According to him, the building is a ruin and visitors cannot even think upon arrival that it is open. If the city decided on a loan for an exhibition in Japan in 2012, the paintings would remain at the castle for a while longer. This, according to the councilor, is unacceptable. "It is impossible for the Epic to be placed there any longer," he stated. The owner of the castle is the Incheba company, which is also the operator of the Prague Exhibition Grounds. It rents out the halls to Krumlov.
The Mayor of Moravský Krumlov, Jaroslav Mokrý, was shocked by the news. "This is absolutely unbelievable. After all, there are no spaces in the Veletržní Palace to exhibit the monumental work of Mucha," he said. He emphasized that Prague's decision is bad news not only for Krumlov but also for all admirers of Mucha's work, who know well that the famous painter requested the creation of a special exhibition pavilion for the Epic in Prague.
"This is one of the solutions proposed by the Prague magistrate. The National Gallery is discussing it, but nothing has yet been contractually agreed," said NG spokesperson Petra Jungwirthová to ČTK. Other options include a loan to Japan or the construction of a new pavilion, she noted. However, if the negotiations went well for the NG, meaning that the canvases would be placed in the Veletržní Palace, they would be installed in the Great Hall and the expected date is this November according to the spokesperson.
However, the city wants the exhibition in Prague to open on September 23. This date marks the first exhibition of the Epic in Prague in 1928, according to Pecha. At that time, it was also on view in the Veletržní Palace. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of Mucha's birth, and according to Pecha, the exhibition of the paintings in Prague would be an appropriate reminder of this anniversary.
The Veletržní Palace, which is the seat of the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art of the NG, does not belong to Prague, but to the state. The Great Hall is currently on a long-term lease by the NG. Prague is proposing the placement of Mucha's canvases at a time when the decision is being made regarding the new director of the NG. The commission recommended one of the seven candidates last week, and the Minister of Culture will decide on the director of the institution. According to his earlier statements, he would like to do so before the May elections.
The decision of the Prague council is criticized by opposition councilor Miroslav Poche (ČSSD). "It is extremely rushed; nothing is prepared. It is just an electoral move, as the city leadership promised in its program statement to relocate the Epic to Prague," Poche told ČTK. According to him, the decision was made directly at today's council meeting. Originally, a decision to lend the paintings to Japan was supposedly prepared.
The Moravský Krumlov city hall will discuss the situation with the leadership of Prague, as well as with Mucha's grandson John.
"There was never any talk about moving the Epic this year," said the mayor. He finds the decision of the Prague councilors so incomprehensible that he will wait for their written statement. The loss of the Epic would also mean a loss of a tourist attraction for Moravský Krumlov. Initially, there was talk of the city receiving other interesting exhibits as a substitute for the Epic, but these discussions have ceased. From the city's perspective, the Epic is irreplaceable.
The Japanese wanted to exhibit the paintings for three months at the National Art Center in Tokyo. According to earlier information, the Japanese side promised that they would cover the restoration of most of the paintings in the cycle and pay for the transport and the production of special transport boxes for the transport of the canvases. Mucha's grandson John opposed the export of the paintings, seeking that Prague build a special gallery for the Epic. He would like to see it in Letná, while Prague prefers Vítkov.
According to Pecha, Prague's placement of the Epic in the Veletržní Palace does not mean abandoning work on the new pavilion. However, it is unclear when and where it might be created. There is also no definitive decision regarding the loan to Japan, but it will not happen in 2012.
The cycle of 20 canvases depicting themes from Slavic history has been at the Moravský Krumlov castle for over 45 years. Prague has already extended the loan agreement several times.