Architect Jan Sokol
Debate evening with Zdeněk Lukeš, Jan Sokol, and Václav Sokol
On Wednesday, November 24, 2010, at 7:00 PM, a debate evening on the work of the significant Czech architect Jan Sokol (1904-1987) will take place in the sacristy of the academic church of St. Salvator by Charles Bridge.
More than just a lecture, more than just a remembrance, this evening will be dedicated to the significant Czech architect Jan Sokol. In his youth, he was one of the few Czechs to work with Le Corbusier and was also acquainted with Auguste Perret. He maintained an overview and perspective throughout his life, although the adversities of the times, first the Nazi, then the communist dictatorship, mostly prevented the realization of his beautiful projects. Nevertheless, even the few works he constructed and what is published reveals a versatile and profound person who inspires even today. It is no coincidence that in current discussions around St. Vitus Cathedral, his name has begun to be mentioned more frequently. The evening will start with an introduction to Sokol's work by leading Czech architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš. This will be followed by a panel discussion involving both of the architect's sons: philosopher Prof. Jan Sokol and artist Václav Sokol. The evening will be moderated by Norbert Schmidt. The debate meeting at St. Salvator takes place in cooperation with the Center for Theology and Art at KTF UK, the Academic Parish of Prague, and the theological journal Salve.
"After Hilbert's death, artistic theorists took on the leading role in completing the modifications of St. Vitus Cathedral, focusing mainly on the arrangement of liturgically completely aimless chapel galleries. [...] During the internal modifications of the integrated interior of St. Vitus, it was completely forgotten that this is a church. [...] Today, however, I believe it is clear to everyone that deficiencies cannot be removed by decoration but by solving fundamental issues, and that what still bothers us about St. Vitus and evokes that impression of incompleteness is precisely that essential matters are still not in order here."
"Soon after, the Second Vatican Council took place along with its liturgical reforms. When I read the relevant constitution – I was stunned. Not that I disagreed with the announced changes. [...] But this requirement, unconditionally declared, meant that all existing churches – or at least a large part – with their marked separation of the chancel from the nave, are unsuitable for the new type of worship in their current form and require at least a radical adjustment of the internal layout."
Jan Sokol
Ing. arch. Zdeněk Lukeš (* 1954) is a leading Czech architectural historian of the 19th and 20th centuries and a publicist. Since the early 90s, he has been active at Prague Castle in the Monument Conservation Department. He has lectured at the Technical University in Liberec, where from 2000 to 2003 he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture. He now lectures at New York University in Prague. For the public, among other things, he irregularly organizes very popular educational "Dog Walks" for architecture. Lukeš is the author or co-author of many professional as well as popular articles (Respekt, Lidové noviny, MFDnes, Architekt, Revolver Revue, Umění, UNI, etc.), lectures (Café Orient), and books with exhibitions (J. Plečnik – Architect of Prague Castle, Prague Castle during TGM, 10 Centuries of Architecture - Architecture of the 20th Century, Prague 1891-1914, Payment of Debt, etc.).
Prof. Jan Sokol (* 1936) trained and worked as a goldsmith, later as a mechanic. In the 1970s, he led various housing seminars and in 1976 signed Charter 77. From 1990 to 1992, he was a member of the Federal Assembly for the Civic Forum and Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Nations. In 1998 he served as Minister of Education of the Czech Republic, and in 2003 he was a coalition candidate for the President of the Republic. Since 1991, he has lectured on philosophy, anthropology, and religious studies at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts at Charles University and since 2000 at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University. Jan Sokol collaborated on the ecumenical translation of the Bible, translated several philosophical books, and is the author of many articles and professional publications (Man and the World through the Eyes of the Bible, Time and Rhythm, A Small Philosophy of Man, etc.).
Václav Sokol (* 1938) is a draftsman, graphic artist, and typographer. He studied at a secondary art school (1953–1958), but due to his "bourgeois and Catholic background," he was not allowed to continue studying at university. From 1959 to 1967, he worked in the Memorial of National Literature and from 1971 to 1990 as the head of promotion, graphic artist, and eventually as a janitor in the state company Road and Railway Construction. Since the 1990s, he has primarily worked as a graphic artist, illustrator, and free artist. From 1993 to 1999, he was involved in the biweekly Architekt. He collaborates on typographic layouts of books (Triáda Publishing, Theatre Institute) and writes articles on fine arts for the Catholic Weekly, Perspektiv, and Revolver Revue.
More than just a lecture, more than just a remembrance, this evening will be dedicated to the significant Czech architect Jan Sokol. In his youth, he was one of the few Czechs to work with Le Corbusier and was also acquainted with Auguste Perret. He maintained an overview and perspective throughout his life, although the adversities of the times, first the Nazi, then the communist dictatorship, mostly prevented the realization of his beautiful projects. Nevertheless, even the few works he constructed and what is published reveals a versatile and profound person who inspires even today. It is no coincidence that in current discussions around St. Vitus Cathedral, his name has begun to be mentioned more frequently. The evening will start with an introduction to Sokol's work by leading Czech architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš. This will be followed by a panel discussion involving both of the architect's sons: philosopher Prof. Jan Sokol and artist Václav Sokol. The evening will be moderated by Norbert Schmidt. The debate meeting at St. Salvator takes place in cooperation with the Center for Theology and Art at KTF UK, the Academic Parish of Prague, and the theological journal Salve.
"After Hilbert's death, artistic theorists took on the leading role in completing the modifications of St. Vitus Cathedral, focusing mainly on the arrangement of liturgically completely aimless chapel galleries. [...] During the internal modifications of the integrated interior of St. Vitus, it was completely forgotten that this is a church. [...] Today, however, I believe it is clear to everyone that deficiencies cannot be removed by decoration but by solving fundamental issues, and that what still bothers us about St. Vitus and evokes that impression of incompleteness is precisely that essential matters are still not in order here."
"Soon after, the Second Vatican Council took place along with its liturgical reforms. When I read the relevant constitution – I was stunned. Not that I disagreed with the announced changes. [...] But this requirement, unconditionally declared, meant that all existing churches – or at least a large part – with their marked separation of the chancel from the nave, are unsuitable for the new type of worship in their current form and require at least a radical adjustment of the internal layout."
Jan Sokol
Ing. arch. Zdeněk Lukeš (* 1954) is a leading Czech architectural historian of the 19th and 20th centuries and a publicist. Since the early 90s, he has been active at Prague Castle in the Monument Conservation Department. He has lectured at the Technical University in Liberec, where from 2000 to 2003 he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Architecture. He now lectures at New York University in Prague. For the public, among other things, he irregularly organizes very popular educational "Dog Walks" for architecture. Lukeš is the author or co-author of many professional as well as popular articles (Respekt, Lidové noviny, MFDnes, Architekt, Revolver Revue, Umění, UNI, etc.), lectures (Café Orient), and books with exhibitions (J. Plečnik – Architect of Prague Castle, Prague Castle during TGM, 10 Centuries of Architecture - Architecture of the 20th Century, Prague 1891-1914, Payment of Debt, etc.).
Prof. Jan Sokol (* 1936) trained and worked as a goldsmith, later as a mechanic. In the 1970s, he led various housing seminars and in 1976 signed Charter 77. From 1990 to 1992, he was a member of the Federal Assembly for the Civic Forum and Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Nations. In 1998 he served as Minister of Education of the Czech Republic, and in 2003 he was a coalition candidate for the President of the Republic. Since 1991, he has lectured on philosophy, anthropology, and religious studies at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts at Charles University and since 2000 at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University. Jan Sokol collaborated on the ecumenical translation of the Bible, translated several philosophical books, and is the author of many articles and professional publications (Man and the World through the Eyes of the Bible, Time and Rhythm, A Small Philosophy of Man, etc.).
Václav Sokol (* 1938) is a draftsman, graphic artist, and typographer. He studied at a secondary art school (1953–1958), but due to his "bourgeois and Catholic background," he was not allowed to continue studying at university. From 1959 to 1967, he worked in the Memorial of National Literature and from 1971 to 1990 as the head of promotion, graphic artist, and eventually as a janitor in the state company Road and Railway Construction. Since the 1990s, he has primarily worked as a graphic artist, illustrator, and free artist. From 1993 to 1999, he was involved in the biweekly Architekt. He collaborates on typographic layouts of books (Triáda Publishing, Theatre Institute) and writes articles on fine arts for the Catholic Weekly, Perspektiv, and Revolver Revue.
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