The head of Bigboard suggested placing Mucha's epopée under the pendulum at Letná

Prague - The foundation led by Richard Fuxa, head of the advertising company Bigboard, has proposed to Prague to place the Slav Epic by Alphonse Mucha in a bunker under the pendulum at Letná. This follows from a letter Fuxa sent to Mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO). The company supposedly has already developed a proposal for the renovation of the space and offered financial and organizational help. Krnáčová is not opposed to discussing the placement of the work at Letná.

“The Slav Epic, a work of global significance, undoubtedly deserves its home. And Prague currently offers a space where it could find a background, namely the bunker on Prague's Letná,” Fuxa writes in the letter.

For the redevelopment of the unused space, the foundation had the SGJ Project office develop a project, including a feasibility study. According to Fuxa, the project would revitalize the deteriorating building and create a new cultural center. However, he does not specify how much the reconstruction would cost, what it would specifically look like, or how long it would take.

Fuxa offered Prague co-participation in the establishment of the center. "In addition to supporting the developed study, I am also ready to participate organizationally and financially in the entire project," he stated.

According to Krnáčová, it is possible to discuss Fuxa's idea. “It is a project for discussion. The Slav Epic is now going to Asia. Upon its return, I expect it will be loaned to Moravský Krumlov for a predetermined period and under clearly defined conditions. In the meantime, I will not be opposed to discussions with all possible entities that would want to help Prague with the construction of a new exhibition space for the Epic,” Krnáčová told ČTK.

The placement of the canvases has been debated for several years since their transport from the castle in Moravský Krumlov to Prague. However, Prague has not yet decided where to place them. Among the considered options were the construction of a new building at the Exhibition Grounds, at Letná, placing the canvases on Vítkov, or building a building on the site of the former Elišky’s baths on Revoluční Street in Prague 1. The Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) is now preparing an analysis of locations where Prague could permanently place the canvases.

The Epic is currently provisionally located in the Veletržní Palace, where it will be on display until the end of this year. Afterwards, it will embark on a tour of Asia, which, however, has been criticized by some experts and the painter’s relative John Mucha. The mayor disagrees with their concerns. It is not yet clear when the work will return to the Czech Republic.

The series of canvases depicting Slavic mythology is included on the list of cultural monuments.