Magic of Scale
Exhibiting works of 23 artists from 16 different countries, Fragments II demonstrate the diversity of thought, used materials, and manipulation of scale combined with exceptional craftsmanship, making the exhibited models works of art themselves. “Individual entries in Fragments II make us appreciate the implicit beauty of theatre through scale-play, through something real, physical, yet holding non-diegetic visceral meanings. Personally, I would like to highlight three works: Scale of Light, The Giant Cat and Reconstructing Memories,” says Klára Zieglerová, the curator of Fragments II, and an acclaimed stage designer working in the US, Europe and Asia.
Stage and lighting designer Dominique Drillot from Monaco introduces Scale of Light, a vivid journal of his past works, employing models used to communicate ideas with choreographers and production staff, as living "memories of the performance", owing to the lights, colours, and automatic changes with cues and effects that preserve the spirit of the show.
The exhibition also explores the disruptive effects of an element in scenographic works, particularly in The Giant Cat, a diorama creating a science fiction story through a gentle use of realistic motives and proposing a certain criticism of hyperbolism in media.
Reconstructing Memories by Auguste Kuneviciute is an audiovisual project that tells three stories taking place in the 1980s in Lithuania, then part of the Soviet Union. The work negotiates unification as something unattainable in contemporary society, through the installation of identical model apartments, achieving a faithful visual and spatial retelling of true stories from that era, with accurate representation of its everyday attributes.
The general director of the National Gallery Prague, Alicja Knast, acknowledges the PQ legacy and assesses its place in the curatorial plan of the gallery: “The Prague Quadrennial is a standout event with a rich history, global influence, and a diverse range of inspiring content. It is uniquely hosted in Prague, a city that celebrates the intersection of visual and performing arts. Prague's vibrant arts community, which includes numerous theatres, galleries, and creative spaces, continually challenges the boundaries of scenography. I am confident that this year's PQ will be a huge success, and it is my joy we can open the National Gallery Prague doors again for that event, especially since the Muzeum Śląskie team, which I had the privilege of leading in 2019, was involved in PQ and so warmly received in the past.”
Acts of Assembly
Exploring how theatres and performance spaces operate as acts of assembly and sites for community, the Performance Space Exhibition explores connections between performance and architecture. Curator Andrew Filmer considers the range of contemporary performance spaces from the perspective of our changing times: “The Performance Space Exhibition offers a rich and varied array of contemporary theatre and performance spaces, from new build theatres and performing arts centres, to digital platforms, and spaces of encounter with the more-than-human world.”
The exhibition will allow visitors to see films, models and digital installations, exploring a variety of spaces. Hailing from Australia, Acts of Re-Assembly: The Re-Build of La Mama Theatre, celebrates the re-building of a much-loved experimental theatre gutted by fire. The new building echoes the old but also reinvents it. An example of a found performance space Platform 1-12 is in the public underpass of the bus station in Topoľčany, Slovakia - transformed into a multimedia space for contemporary culture. A more intimate spatial experience is proposed in this space is for you, a site-responsive XR installation and conceptual site for refuge and reorientations of a performing place.
World of scenography reflected in writing
The books in the Best Publication Award will be displayed in the National Gallery as well. The curator Pavel Drábek accentuates the width of the discussed topics and publishing approaches in the entries of this PQ’s open call. “The range is truly astounding and shows ground-breaking developments in scenography and performance design. There are books on scenographers and scenographic activities of all kinds: in the theatre, arts, business, architecture or in the environment. Several books appeared in different media: online volumes, e-books and audio collections, while some use augmented reality to better illustrate the art.”
The award ceremony, including the Best Publication Award, will take place on 13 June at 9 pm in the Jatka78 theatre.
Performances in the National Gallery
The exhibitions on the 5th floor of the National Gallery will be completed by a series of performances in Malá Dvorana and Piazetta. The venues will host performances of physical and visual theatre, movement and choreographies like How things go or I’M HERE II. PQ also invites to the performances negotiating power, superiority and colonialism in Nuevo Zoologique Mexicano and Ombre des Amazonies, at the same time introducing multi-layered work WRECK - List of Extinct Species.
Admission
The programme in the National Gallery Prague is open to visitors with an Exhibition ticket or a Festival Pass, now available for purchase. The ticket allows visitors to see the Exhibition of Countries and Regions as well, situated in the halls of the Holešovice Market.
The Festival Pass also includes access to PQ Talks in Jatka78 and 50% sale on tickets for the PQ Studio Stage performances at DAMU.
The Student Exhibition in the open sky location of the square in the Holešovice Market and the performances in the public space are free of charge.
Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space
Since 1967, once every four years, PQ explores the artistic areas of scenography, performance design and space within all their aspects - from scenic art, costume, lighting and sound design, and performance space architecture to side-adaptive performance, applied scenography or costume as a performance. The core of the festival’s idea is to present contemporary performance design as a self-sufficient art form, acting upon the human imagination through all the senses - sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. PQ traditionally hosts artists from more than a hundred countries and is the most important event of its kind in the world.
Performance design/scenography has evolved substantially and expanded far beyond established theatre conventions. Models, sketches of designs, and performance photographs still remain excellent resources that map the minds and open the door to the imagination of their creators. On the other hand, these formats capture only one part of the creative process and tell us little about the environment, circumstances, emotions, and overall atmosphere of the performance. The one way to present scenography in its genuine form, comprising all of its parts and including audience participation, is to experience it live, in performative settings and curatorial environments that create or recreate its operations.
The present-day practice of performance design/scenography is one of the most exciting art forms and creative domains – in the innovative, fresh and holistic ways of engaging their audiences, participants, and the public.
In 2015 Prague Quadrennial received the EFFE award and was named one of the most innovative festivals in Europe.
Prague Quadrennial is initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic
and organized by the Arts and Theatre Institute.
With the supprt of: Prague 7 City District
In cooperation with: the Holešovice Market, National Gallery Prague, the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Centers, Art&Digital Lab - H40, Máš umělecké střevo?
Partners: Volkswagen Czech Republic, Mama Shelter Prague
Main media partner: Czech Radio
