HOUSE AND GARDEN (EXHIBITION)

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The exhibition "House & Garden" at UM Gallery, UMPRUM, presents multiple layers and themes, documenting the evolution and transformation of the Kafkárna space and its uses. It showcases the space's opening to international collaboration, community building around the garden, and maps various events for local residents and the general public. This is supported by documentation including historical photographs, videos, and especially artistic artifacts associated with the site. Notably, small animal sculptures by Bohumil Kafka, lent by the Prague City Gallery, are featured.Masarykova 

Kafkárna is characterized as a place full of life and creative activity. The exhibition emphasizes not only artistic production but also the current Kafkárna program. The atmosphere is conveyed through numerous accompanying events extending beyond the gallery to the entire UMPRUM building at nám. Jana Palacha. The aim is to present Kafkárna as a meeting place, laboratory, hideaway, and source of knowledge. During the exhibition, Kafkárna's themes and activities are temporarily transferred throughout the school building, metaphorically growing through all floors and potentially taking root at nám. Jana Palacha. Activities include thematic lectures, seminars, workshops, vegetarian cooking, hairdressing, and yoga.

The exhibition was prepared by the Center for Art and Ecology at UMPRUM, which has been operating at Kafkárna since 2022. It was accompanied by the publication "Kafkárna: House & Garden," reflecting on the history and current state of Kafkárna and themes associated with the art-ecological center. The book, published by UMPRUM Press with support from the EEA and Norway Grants, was released in April 2024.

Exhibiting artists include: Barvolam, Nina Bělíčková, Jan Boháč, Eva Brodská, Liv Bugge, Viktor Dedek, Elpida, Anna Fiedlerová, Kurt Gebauer, Jan Haubelt, Marie Hantáková & Nikola Šmeralová, Irvine Hill, Jana Chmelařová, Bohumil Kafka, Jiří Kovanda & Veronika Zapletalová, Stanislav Karoli, Krunýř, Jeongsoo Lim, Anna Žofie Langová, Matouš Lipus, Julie Luňáková, Marek Mirčev, Mercedes Mühleisen, Aleš Novák, Daniela Peterová, Tatiana Piussi, Horymír Povolný, Nicolas Prokop, Ruta Putramentaite, Anna Ročňová, Ivan Svoboda, Josef Sudek, Dagmar Šubrtová, Marie Tučková, Milada Wlazelová, and Žižkostel.

The exhibition was curated by Amálie Bulandrová, Dominik Lang, and Kateřina Vídenová. Graphic design was by Žofia Fodorová and Magdalena Konečná. The installation team included Jakub Lukáš, Marek Mirčev, Nikola Šmeralová, and Hubert Švaříček. Audio contributions were made by Marie Hantáková, Jana Chmelařová, and Jonáš Richter. Texts were provided by Benjamin Foerster Baldenius, Ruta Putramentaite, Catriona Sandilands, and Tereza Stöckelová. Special thanks to the EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021 (Culture Program), Prague City Gallery, National Gallery Archive, Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Vladimír Faltus.