Organized in six thematic blocks (motion, public space, portrait, puppet, estheticized image, backstage) and based on the association with the topic, the exhibition compares current trends in the genre and a few fragments of the works by outstanding figures of Czech theatre photography across the 20th and 21st centuries. The exhibits were part of the past two years of the Theatre Photography Showcase (2018 and 2020), historical artifacts were borrowed from the author’s private collections and ATI collections.
“I and my colleague Anna Hejmová chose the exhibited photos from 1,971 photographs sent to both editions of the Theatre Photography Showcase. Thus, photographs that were not selected by the jury got a second chance to make it to the Czech Center in Paris. While carefully going through the historical photographs, we realized once again how important the phenomenon of theatre photography is despite being given minimum attention. We are happy we can present Czech theatre photography at the PhotoSaintGermain festival,” says Denisa Šťastná, one of the curators.
Visitors are presented with a cross-section of current trends in the genre through selected exhibits that compare it with the fragments of works by prominent figures of Czech theatre photography across the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition takes place in the Czech Centre in Paris at 18 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, and will be on display until 13 January 2022.
The accompanying program features a guided tour with the curators of the exhibition and Artist Talk with photographer Viktor Kronbauer.