kruh 2008 spring: Architecture and Art in Public Space

The civic association KRUH prepared a series of three lecture evenings for the first half of 2008, dedicated to the theme of architecture and art in public spaces. The program is divided into thematic areas, within which various manifestations of architecture and visual art in urban environments as well as in the landscape will be presented. The first evening's presentations by architects and visual artists will focus on contemporary concepts of monuments and memorials. The following lectures will track changes in the shaping of public spaces and building façades. The upcoming meetings will showcase quality realizations and designs and allow for confrontation of the approaches of individual authors and genres. The lectures will feature David Černý, Krištof Kintera, the architectural studio Sporadical, Group Ládví, Josef Pleskot, Lukáš Rittstein, the architectural studio Třiarchitekti, Projektil, and many others.
The significance of the coexistence of architecture and visual artworks in urban spaces or landscapes stems from historical context. Across centuries, we can observe the crucial role of sculpture and painting in shaping building façades, the integration of standalone artworks into urban environments, and last but not least, working with art or structure in the context of the landscape. The current transformation of these more or less traditional themes, firmly rooted in history, will be attempted to be brought closer by the aforementioned series of lectures.

The lectures will take place every first Thursday of the month at the newly established contemporary art gallery Tranzitdisplay.
More information at www.kruh.info, www. tranzitdisplay.cz, contact email kruhos@seznam.cz

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Thu 06.03. 2008 19h Monument and Memorial
Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Liberec, Memorial to Czechoslovak Foreign Soldiers Who Fell on the Battlefields of WWII, Prague, Commemorative Plaque for Display, Competition for a Monument to Jan Bouchal, New Audiovisual Exhibition at the Lidice Memorial, and more

presented by: Sporadical, Plieštik, Novotný, Opočenský, Černý, Kintera, Group Ládví, PZA, Prokůpek, and others

What significance does a monument and memorial hold for us today? How does an architect and visual artist perceive this theme? What form of monument is adequate in today’s age? Answers to these questions will be presented, for example, by the authors of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Liberec or the audiovisual exhibition at the Lidice memorial, along with other architects, sculptors, and artists.

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Thu 03.04 2008 Public Spaces
Fountain in the square in Plzeň, Riverbank Modification in Litomyšl, Maxipes Fík Riverbank in Kadaň, Sculpture Park Kraví Hora in Brno, sculpture by Mejla Hlavsa in Liberec

presented by: Cisler, Třiarchitekti architectural studio, Projektil, Atelier Um, a3, Rittstein, and others

The lecture evening, focused on the transformation of urban centers and public spaces, will outline questions related to the modification of squares, the choice of urban furniture, the role of greenery within the city, and the introduction of new artifacts (sculptures, fountains, etc.). In addition to the question of modifications to historical squares, the topic of revitalizing riverbanks (Litomyšl-Kadaň) will be repeatedly discussed during the evening. The growing representation of sculptures in public spaces will be highlighted by presentations from Lukáš Rittstein and others.

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Thu 05.06. 2008 Building Facades
Color solutions for panel housing estates in Prague Roztyly, Hotel Metropol in the Old Town, Technical Library in Dejvice, Smíchov Synagogue in Prague, and many others

presented by: Rothbauerová, Babák, Kvíčala, Ellement, Signs of Four - Architects, Mackovič, and others

The series of lectures "Architecture and Art in Public Spaces" will conclude with the topic of the aesthetic approach to shaping building façades. Attention will also be given to the current transformation of the façades of older buildings, the issue of renovation, insulation, and adding extensions to residential buildings.

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Venue: Gallery TRANZITDISPLAY - Center for Contemporary Art, Dittrichova 9/337, Prague 2
More information www.kruh.info, www. tranzitdisplay.cz, email kruhos@seznam.cz

project partners: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, AVU School of Architecture Prague
project supported by: Sipral, AV Media, Konsepti, MDA Prague s.r.o., MDA Ostrava s.r.o., Metrostav a.s., Municipality of Prague
media partners: Era 21, Radio 1, www.archiweb.cz, cultural weekly A2