The exhibition is held from 28. 2. to 22. 3. 2014, concurrently at the Old Town Hall in Prague and the La Femme Gallery. The event will be complemented by a comprehensive catalog, now under preparation, to be published in the course of 2014.
The exhibition’s godfathers are art historian František Dvořák, actor Oldřich Hamera, graphic designer and illustrator; Rudolf Hrušínský Jr., Hrabal’s scenic director Ivo Krobot, essayist and writer Radko Pytlík and translator and writer Josef Zumr, who all were closely affiliated with Hrabal and his work, either as specialists in his work or as creators of Hrabal-related artworks. Patronage over the exhibition is assumed by Václav Novotný, deputy mayor of the capital city of Prague. Also taking part in the project is the Golden Tiger restaurant (U Zlatého tygra), where Hrabal often used to drink beer, and Pivovar Dalešice, the brewery where the film named Postřižiny was made.
"We can remember Bohumil Hrabal best not only by his work, but also by presenting the work of our prominent painters and sculptors who drew inspiration from or were influenced by him," says Miroslav Lipina, owner of La Femme Gallery in Prague. "Thematically focused on the personality and work of Bohumil Hrabal, the exhibition is the La Femme Gallery’s latest project that forms part of a long-term and rather successful cycle of exhibitions named Home Assignments of the La Femme Gallery. Now in its 21st sequel, it is without a doubt an interesting creative framework as well as opportunity to become acquainted with the way artists often render a very fresh and unique view of this important author, who is well-known not only in his homeland but also in many countries abroad," adds Miroslav Lipina.
The La Femme Gallery’s Home Assignments offer Bohemian and Slovak artists’ assignments on a certain theme – always a different one. The theme of the first assignment in 2000 was called The Woman and Photographs. Another theme was Edouard Manet’s famous painting The Luncheon on the Grass. It provoked artists to most diverse variances and associations, including some very witty works, such as Alois Mikulka’s Old Men’s Luncheon or Jiří Šorm’s Luncheon in Marihuana. More assignments followed, e.g., Small Tribute to Great Edith; Venus; The Woman and Automobile; Mona Lisa; Wine, Women, and Song; Expulsion from Paradise; The World is Fun with Water, Self-portrait, Miss Avignon, Women in Captivity of Technology, A Matter of the Heart, Women in Motion, The Woman and the Beast, Cherchez La Femme, and the latest so far, Women and Architecture.
Established in 2000, the La Femme Gallery focuses thematically primarily on the woman as an eternal inspiration for artists – you may see her in the greatest variety scenarios, sizes, and colors. The woman is a muse that the visitor has a chance to see through individual artists’ eyes.