How does this work?
Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Plastic art in Prague public areas in the period of “Normalization”

Documentation and popularization of the sculptures in the 1970s and the 1980s in Czechoslovakia

Viewed 2093 times
    This guide contains photos
 (0 votes)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 7.0 miles / 11.3 km
Duration: Multiple days
Dog Friendly
 
Overview: After the period of great experiments in the 1960s, monumental sculpture for the public areas was going through a creative stagnation in the 1970s and the 1980s. Results of the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and social and political changes caused that free experiment will not be tolerable. The period called Normalization just started.

On the other hand, there were probably more tenders and social orders then ever before. Huge amount of orders was guaranteed by law, that obliged every state building (overwhelming majority of all building projects) to spend 1% - 4% of its budget on decoration. This - 4% art - comprised then esthetical dominant features around forming housing estates, health centers, shopping centers, production enterprises and administrative buildings. This way the state ensured work for educated sculptors in order to gain their loyalty and use them for its own propagation.

Current brutal handling of and disregard for sculptures for public areas from recent times of the Normalization, in spite of their unquestionable quality, has forced a group of volunteers to systematic documentation and popularization of the sculptures. They hope to change the public attitude to these monuments of culture and to prevent hereby the vandalism.


Points of Interest

map

Stone mosaic - Husite

Jirina Adamcova, 1980, stone, metro station, Prague
map

Calyx

Frantisek Pasek, 1983, at the exit of the metro Zelivskeho, Vinohrady, Prague 3
------------------------------

Frantisek Pasek was born on December 2nd 1922 in Sneti by the city of Ledec nad Sazavou. He studied under professors Otto Eckert and Jan Kavan at Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, where he graduated in 1952. He devoted himself to chamber sculptures, ceramic work and work with porcelain. Many of his works have been implemented in architecture. Since 1954 he engaged in the restoration of stone, plaster and ceramics, creating a facsimile of sculptures in the artificial stone. He participated e. g. in the reconstruction of the baroque vases for garden in Troja castle.
map

Name unknown

unknown author, 70´s, bronze, Vinohrady, Zelivskeho street, Prague 10
map

Waterfall

Ivan Jilemnicky, 1982, sandstone, Strasnice, Na Vinici park, Prague 10
map

Women with ornaments

Jaroslav Kolovrat, 1986, sandstone, travertine, area of Vinohrady​​ Hospital, Prague 10
map

Blossom

Lubos Ruzicka, 1987, sandstone, Vinohrady Hospital, Prague 1
------------------------------

Sochař, medailér a sklářský výtvarník Lubomír Růžička se narodil 7. 3. roku 1938 ve Vyškově na Moravě. V letech 1955 až 1959 vystudoval Střední umělecko-průmyslovou školu sklářskou v Železném Brodě. Od roku 59 až do 65 studoval na Vysoké škole uměleckoprůmyslové v Praze v Ateliéru sochařství u profesora Josefa Malejovského a v Ateliéru skla u profesora Stanislava Libenského. V letech 1984 až 86 působil nejdříve jako asistent Ateliéru kov a šperk na VŠUP a posléze až do roku 1990 jako vedoucí ateliéru. Autor portrétní a figurativní tvorby, vyznačující se smyslem pro modernistickou plastickou zkratku a lyrickou metaforu. Od 70. let realizuje především figurativní sochy nebo dekorativní plastiky koncipované pro architekturu.
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, Ruska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, Ruska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, Ruska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, Ruska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Name unknown

author unknown, 80's, ceramics, Murmanska street, Ruska street, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

author unknown, sandstone, Prubezna street, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Mother with child

Peter Oriesek, 1982, artificial stone, Ke Strasnicke street, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Reliefs above the entrance to apartment building

author unknown, sandstone, Ke Strasnicke street, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

author unknown, stone, in front of the Juno hotel, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

author unknown, metal, placed in a park in the Solidarity street, Prague 10
map

Memorial of climbing expedition in Peru

author unknown, sandstone, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

unknown author, Stone at the entrance to the hotel Rhea, Strasnice, Prague 10
map

Rest

Jiri Krystufek, 1985, stone, before Polyclinic Malesice Nad Uzlabinou street, Prague 10
------------------------------

Krystufek was born on March 31th 1932 in Prague

1947 - 1950 Professional School of Ceramics in Prague
1951 - 1956 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under prof. J. Lauda
1968 - 1970 PhD at the Academy under prof. Charles Lidicky
1970 - 1990 Assistant, Assistant Professor, Professor, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Arts

Sculptor Jiri Krystufek was fortunate that his topic of life became a figure of adolescent girls. His brilliant realistic figures and portraits modeled without spiritual distortions or modernist abbreviation were seamlessly approved by the control of CFVU selection committee, which proclaimed imprecisely defined ideas of socialist realism. The author did not want any political pandering. He was really motivated by a passionate fondness for the study of the human female body especially at a fascinating moment of puberty. Aeronaut Sculpture at Posepný Square is the sculptor's only figure of boy and even that figure is considerably feminine. In case he didn´t created on demand for public space a poetic girlish nude or figure with wet drapery, he planted indifferent abstracted object inspired by flora and fauna. His quality and easygoing figurative and decorative work was easily promoted in every period of the previous regime.
map

Sgrafita

the apartment building on the corner Pocernicka and Plananska Street Settlement Malesice, Prague 10
map

First Book

author unknown, sandstone, in front of the school, Nad Vodovodem street 460, Malesice, Prague 10
map

Entrance to the park Malesice

author unknown, 1970, removed by 2011, burnt brick, Malesicka park Karanska, Chotuticka, Prague 10 - Malesice. After tearing down the wall in 2011 there was civic activity for its rebuilding, and established the location of new walls in the original design
map

Thoughtful

author unknown, sandstone, park in the Pocernicka street, Prague 3
map

Giant, Whale and Frog

Cestmir Suska, 1986, concrete, Rektorska street, Malesice, Prague 10
------------------------------

At the end of the 80th in the relaxed decadent conclusion of the period od normalization implemented in the public space sculptor Cestmir Suska, member of a new generation. He created in the style of Czech grotesque for suburbs of Prague a few monumental humorous sculptures as Knight, The Happy Prince, Thread, Pig on a walk, Giant, Whale and Frog.

His original outdoor sculptures inspired by the rock garden or totems, go beyond the period of homogeneous visual plan of suburbs development. Affinity can only be found with several other of his contemporaries like Kurt Gebauer, Ellen Jilemnicka or Jaroslav Rona (Since 1987 Suska was with Rona one of the members of the progressive group Tvrdohlavi).

The official implementation in the public areas also became for a disengaged young artist a way how to exhibit his works besides official and censored exhibition halls. He proved his funny guerrilla access in the year of 1981 by the legendary exhibition Malostranske dvorky, which was considered an example of the current genre of Site Specific Works. To the unprecedented popularity of this exhibition helped the fact that it was - as a supposedly politically dangerous - forbidden by paranoid officials of the National Committee.
map

Knight

Cestmir Suska, 1986, sandstone, Rektorska street, Malesice, Prague 10
------------------------------

At the end of the 80th in the relaxed decadent conclusion of the period od normalization implemented in the public space sculptor Cestmir Suska, member of a new generation. He created in the style of Czech grotesque for suburbs of Prague a few monumental humorous sculptures as Knight, The Happy Prince, Thread, Pig on a walk, Giant, Whale and Frog.

His original outdoor sculptures inspired by the rock garden or totems, go beyond the period of homogeneous visual plan of suburbs development. Affinity can only be found with several other of his contemporaries like Kurt Gebauer, Ellen Jilemnicka or Jaroslav Rona (Since 1987 Suska was with Rona one of the members of the progressive group Tvrdohlavi).

The official implementation in the public areas also became for a disengaged young artist a way how to exhibit his works besides official and censored exhibition halls. He proved his funny guerrilla access in the year of 1981 by the legendary exhibition Malostranske dvorky, which was considered an example of the current genre of Site Specific Works. To the unprecedented popularity of this exhibition helped the fact that it was - as a supposedly politically dangerous - forbidden by paranoid officials of the National Committee.
map

Happy Prince

Cestmir Suska, 1986, sandstone, Rektorska street, Malesice, Prague 10
------------------------------

At the end of the 80th in the relaxed decadent conclusion of the period od normalization implemented in the public space sculptor Cestmir Suska, member of a new generation. He created in the style of Czech grotesque for suburbs of Prague a few monumental humorous sculptures as Knight, The Happy Prince, Thread, Pig on a walk, Giant, Whale and Frog.

His original outdoor sculptures inspired by the rock garden or totems, go beyond the period of homogeneous visual plan of suburbs development. Affinity can only be found with several other of his contemporaries like Kurt Gebauer, Ellen Jilemnicka or Jaroslav Rona (Since 1987 Suska was with Rona one of the members of the progressive group Tvrdohlavi).

The official implementation in the public areas also became for a disengaged young artist a way how to exhibit his works besides official and censored exhibition halls. He proved his funny guerrilla access in the year of 1981 by the legendary exhibition Malostranske dvorky, which was considered an example of the current genre of Site Specific Works. To the unprecedented popularity of this exhibition helped the fact that it was - as a supposedly politically dangerous - forbidden by paranoid officials of the National Committee.
map

Summer-house (Altan)

Karel Nepras, 1984, cast iron, wood, iron, Rektorska street, Malesice, Prague 10
map

Torso of woman

Miroslav Jirava, artificial stone, on the corner of Pod Lipami street and Konevova street, Prague 3
map

Name unknown

Ladislav Kovarik, 1971, wood, U Knezske louky street, Chmelnice, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Lovers

Miroslav Jirava, 70´s, artificial stone, on the corner of Lucni street and U Knezske louky street, Chmelnice, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Apple

Jiri Krystufek, granite, 1979, in front of the basic school,Na Lucinach street, Chmelnice, Prague 3
------------------------------

Krystufek was born on March 31th 1932 in Prague

1947 - 1950 Professional School of Ceramics in Prague
1951 - 1956 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under prof. J. Lauda
1968 - 1970 PhD at the Academy under prof. Charles Lidicky
1970 - 1990 Assistant, Assistant Professor, Professor, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Arts

Sculptor Jiri Krystufek was fortunate that his topic of life became a figure of adolescent girls. His brilliant realistic figures and portraits modeled without spiritual distortions or modernist abbreviation were seamlessly approved by the control of CFVU selection committee, which proclaimed imprecisely defined ideas of socialist realism. The author did not want any political pandering. He was really motivated by a passionate fondness for the study of the human female body especially at a fascinating moment of puberty. Aeronaut Sculpture at Posepný Square is the sculptor's only figure of boy and even that figure is considerably feminine. In case he didn´t created on demand for public space a poetic girlish nude or figure with wet drapery, he planted indifferent abstracted object inspired by flora and fauna. His quality and easygoing figurative and decorative work was easily promoted in every period of the previous regime.
map

Plus - Minus

Ladislav Kovarik, travertin, K Lucinam street, Chmelnice, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Drinking fountain

Josef Klimes, 80´s, granite, Konevova street, Na Jarove street, Prague
map

Ceramic painting

author unknown, 80´s, ceramics, Konevova street, Na Jarove street, Prague
map

Wings

Jiri Novak, 1987, metal, Konevova street, Na Jarove street, Prague
------------------------------
map

Boundary stone (Patnik)

Josef Klimes, 80´s, concrete, Konevova street, Na Jarove street, Prague
map

Summer

Rudolf Svoboda, 1968, stone, Konevova street, Prague 3
map

Sitting

Vladimir Kyn, 1980, limestone, Na Vrcholu street and Konevova street, Prague
map

Girl

Zdenek Josef Preclik, stone, on a street corner of Konevova street and Na Chmelnici street, Chmelnice, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Mother with child

Bohumil Kozohorsky, 1971, bronze, Biskupcova street, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Boy

Jaroslav Hladky, 1976, bronze, Za Zizkovskou vozovnou street, Zizkov, Prague 3
------------------------------

Sochar Jaroslav Hladky se narodil 1. cervence roku 1942 v Praze. Mezi lety 1956 a 1960 studoval Stredni umeleckoprumyslovou skolu keramickou v Karlovych Varech u prof. Strnada. Po studiich na stredni skole nastoupil do socharského atelieru na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u prof. Karla Hladika. Pusobil jako pedagog na fakulte Univerzity Karlovy v Praze. Jaroslav Hladky se ve sve tvorbe zabyval predevsim realisticky pojatou figurou se sportovni tematikou pro budovy skol a sportovni arealy. V roce 1982 vytvoril pro park Folimanka legendarni sochu Skateboardista, ktera svym nametem predbehla svou dobu, bohuzel byla pri revitalizaci parku v roce 2008 odstranena.
map

Sun-dial

author unknown, 80's, stone, outdoor pool, Za Zizkovskou vozovnou street, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Animals

author unknown, Vitkov park, Prague 3
map

Man conquering new horizon of the universe

Sauro Ballardini, 1980, glass mosaic, the Telecommunications Center, Olsanska street, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Name unknown

author unknown, ceramics, 1980, the Telecommunications Center, Olsanska street, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Anna Proletarka

Ladislav Kovarik, 70´s, bronze, Jeseniova street, J. Zelivskeho street, Prague 3
map

Lying woman

author unknown, travertin, Olsanska street, Zizkov, Prague 3
map

Fountain

Peter Oriesek, 1985, ceramic, Atrium Gallery, Cajkovskeho street 12, Prague 3
map

Fountain

Petr Sedivy, 1981, granite, Jiriho z Podebrad square, Vinohrady, Prague 2, sculpture of Fountain was originally a draft prepared by architect Anna Hubschmannova and Beryl Filsakova. The sculpture was built in cooperation with stonemasonry school in Horice.
------------------------------

Petr Sedivy was born on October 19th 1948 in Prague. He studied under prof. Karel Lidicky and Milos Axman at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he graduated in 1976.
map

Girl with a hoop

Ladislav Kovarik, 1959, bronze and sandstone, Riegrovy sady, not far from Chopinova street, Prague
map

Fountain

Rudolf Svoboda, 1989, stainless steel, Italska street, Prague 2
map

Fountain

Vaclav Aulicky, Jiri Eisenreich, Ivo Loos and Jindrich Malatek, 1978, behind the administrative building of the Transit pipeline, Rubesova street, Vinohrady, Prague 2
map

Peace

Jiri Krystufek, 1979, bronze, Namesti Miru square, Vinohrady, Prague 2
------------------------------

Krystufek was born on March 31th 1932 in Prague

1947 - 1950 Professional School of Ceramics in Prague
1951 - 1956 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under prof. J. Lauda
1968 - 1970 PhD at the Academy under prof. Charles Lidicky
1970 - 1990 Assistant, Assistant Professor, Professor, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Arts

Sculptor Jiri Krystufek was fortunate that his topic of life became a figure of adolescent girls. His brilliant realistic figures and portraits modeled without spiritual distortions or modernist abbreviation were seamlessly approved by the control of CFVU selection committee, which proclaimed imprecisely defined ideas of socialist realism. The author did not want any political pandering. He was really motivated by a passionate fondness for the study of the human female body especially at a fascinating moment of puberty. Aeronaut Sculpture at Posepný Square is the sculptor's only figure of boy and even that figure is considerably feminine. In case he didn´t created on demand for public space a poetic girlish nude or figure with wet drapery, he planted indifferent abstracted object inspired by flora and fauna. His quality and easygoing figurative and decorative work was easily promoted in every period of the previous regime.
map

Tired

Jaroslav Hladky, 1989, bronze, in front of the sports hall Bohemians, Slovenska steet 3, Prague 2
------------------------------

Sochar Jaroslav Hladky se narodil 1. cervence roku 1942 v Praze. Mezi lety 1956 a 1960 studoval Stredni umeleckoprumyslovou skolu keramickou v Karlovych Varech u prof. Strnada. Po studiich na stredni skole nastoupil do socharského atelieru na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u prof. Karla Hladika. Pusobil jako pedagog na fakulte Univerzity Karlovy v Praze. Jaroslav Hladky se ve sve tvorbe zabyval predevsim realisticky pojatou figurou se sportovni tematikou pro budovy skol a sportovni arealy. V roce 1982 vytvoril pro park Folimanka legendarni sochu Skateboardista, ktera svym nametem predbehla svou dobu, bohuzel byla pri revitalizaci parku v roce 2008 odstranena.
map

Name unknown

author unknown, ceramics, Ukrajinska street, Prague 4
map

Trees

Ellen Jilemnicka, 1990, sandstone, Vrsovicka street 62, Vrsovice, Prague 10
map

Mosaic

Radomir Kolar, 80th, Magnitorska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Mosaic

Radomir Kolar, 80th, Taskentska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Mother with children

author unknown, sandstone, Taskentska street, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

Vendelin Zdrubecky, bronze, 80th, Turkmenska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
------------------------------

* 21.5.1923 Holice
+ 2.8.1986 Praha

Studies:
1942 - 1945 College of Applied Arts, Prague, Jan Lauda
1946 - 1951 Academy of Fine Arts, Prague, Jan Lauda
1946 - 1951 Academy of Fine Arts, Prague, Karel Pokorny
map

Mosaic

Radomir Kolar, 80th, Turkmenska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Mosaic

Radomir Kolar, 80th, Tadzicka street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Boy with model airplane

author unknown, bronze, Tadzicka street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Name unknown

author unknown, 80th, Kazasska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Mosaic

Radomir Kolar, 80th, Kazasska street, Prague 10 - Vrsovice
map

Eden

80th, mosaic, Vrsovicka street, Prague 10
map

Fountain landscape

Pavel Prikryl, 1980, stone, Vrsovicka street 65, Prague 10
map

Stone composition

Karel Kronych, 1969, stone, Kodanska street, Prague 10
------------------------------

Karel Kronych was born in Rakovnik in 1926. Since 1949 he studied under prof. Lidicky, Salzman and Bouda at the Pedagogical Faculty of Charles University, since 1955 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under prof. Jan Lauda. He participated in the sculptural decoration of the Czechoslovak pavilion at the exhibition in Brussels - Expo 58, where - as a member of the creative team - received a gold medal. He is the creator of the series of reliefs, sculptures and decorative walls at various public buildings.
map

Lovers

Ladislav Kovarik, 1970, sandstone, on the corner of V Korytech street and Bramborikova street, Zabehlice, Prague 10
map

Ball games

Vladimir Preclik, 1984, painted metal, pushed tombac in front of a sports hall, V Kotytech street, Zabehlice, Prague 10
map

Egg

Frantisek Pacik​​, 70th, travertine, atrium of policlinic, Jablonova street, Prague 10
------------------------------

Frantisek Pacik se narodil v roce 1927 v Nedasove u Valasskych Klobuk. Pred prijetim na vysokou skolu se v letech 1946 až 49 ucil u Jaroslava Masaka na Soukrome skole dekorativnich umeni v Praze, pote studoval az do roku 1954 na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u prof. Jana Laudy. Jeho spoluzaci v atelieru byli treba Hugo Demartiny, Karel Kronych, Vladislav Gajda a take celozivotni pritel Josef Klimes, s kterym vstoupil roku 1961 do umelecke skupiny Trasa. Byl vyznamnou osobnosti silne generace 60. let a aktivne se svoji tvorbou podilel na procesu emancipace vytvarneho umeni z podruci ideologicke kontroly. Od poloviny 60. let zacal s prazskym socharem Slavojem Nejdlem dojizdet do Plzne, kde si zridil srubovy atelier. Dostali totiz mimoradne zajimavou nabidku, aby „kultivacne pusobili mimo centrum, v odlehlem prostredi ceskeho zapadu“ a zucastnili se soutezi na socharskou vyzdobu pro architekturu nove vznikajicich sidlist. V zapadoceskem kraji se Pacikovi podarilo diky priznive situaci realizovat velke mnozstvi nadcasovych plastik pro verejny prostor, ktere byly proti zvyklostem abstraktni, nezatizene popisnosti ani dekorativismem a navazovaly na jeho vlastni progresivni volnou tvorbu. Zemrel roku 1975 v Praze v dobe vrcholici „Normalizace“. V dusledku nasledujicich cistek od „formalistických tendenci“, nebyl ze strany oficiálnich struktur zajem o ucelenou presentaci jeho tvorby zcela se vymykajici tehdejsim ideologickych mantinelum. Pacik byl na dlouha leta uplne zapomenut a vymazan s dejin vytvarneho umeni, a to presto nebo mozna prave proto, ze se o jeho praci vyjadril uznavany nekonformni teoretik vytvarneho umeni Jindrich Chalupecky, ze „Pacik byl pravdepodobne nejvetsi plastik sve generace“.
map

Three Graces

Frantisek Häckel, 1984, sandstone of Horice, Jablonova street, Zabehlice, Prague 10
map

Concrete rest-stops

author unknown, ceramics, stone, behind a former shopping mall Kvet, Ostruzinova street, Prague 10
map

Lying woman

author unknown, stone, in a park, Mezi zahradkami square, Zabehlice, Prague 10
map

Sitting woman

author unknown, stone, in a park, Mezi zahradkami square, Zabehlice, Prague 10

map

Family

Miloslav Sonka, 1984, bronze, Vajdova street, Prague 4
map

Rest area

Jindriska Radova, 1985, porcelain, atrium of a school, Kozinova street, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

author unknown, 80th, sandstone, Kozmikova street, Hostivar, Prague 10
map

Fontain

Vladimir Kyn, early 70th, bronze, Weilova street, Prague 10
map

Relief + clock

Vladimir Kyn, early 70th, bronze, Weilova street, at the entrance to the college, Prague 10
map

Name unknown

author unknown, plastic, stone, U dvojdomu street, Hostivar, Prague 15
map

Gymnast

Bozena and Ludvik Kodymovi, 1985, sandstone, in front of a swimming pool at the Sports Center of Charles University, Bruslarska street, Hostivar, Prague 9
map

Mosaic

author unknown, ceramics, a former health center Hostivar, Tenisova street, Prague 15
map

Dlouhy, siroky a bystrozraky

Vojtech Adamec, 1989, glazed ceramic, the school courtyard, Nad Prehradou street, Petrovice, Prague 4
map

Blossom

Vladimir Janousek, 80th, metal, Mejstrikova street, in a park, Haje, Prague 11
------------------------------

Narodil se 30. 1. roku 1922 v Predni Zdirnici u Nove Paky. V Nove Pace, v blizkych Horicich i v nedalekem Kuksu mohl obdivovat skvelou ceskou tradici sochy ve verejnem prostoru mest ci volne krajine. Po maturite na gymnaziu v Upici, kam bylo prestehovano po zaboru pohranici z Trutnova, nejdrive zacal studovat architekturu. Studium jiz dokoncit nemohl, vsechny vysoke skoly byly v roce 1939 po okupaci zbytku Ceskoslovenska zavreny. Nasledujici rok na to studoval na zastupne brnenske skole umeleckych remesel, kde se jeste vice jeho zajem posunul smerem k vytvarnemu umeni. V roce 1941 ale uz musel nastoupit k nucenym pracim do Rise. Po valce se Janousek vratil do Prahy s rozhodnutim studovat socharství. Po neuspesnem prijimacim rizeni na Akademii vytvarnych umeni se uspesne dostal na Vysokou školu umeleckoprumyslovou do atelieru prof. Wagnera. V roce 1950 ukoncil sve studium zaverecnou sochou Jana Husa, za kterou si vyslouzil kritiku za nedostatecnou popisnost a absenci „te spravne“ ideove nadstavby, presto absolvoval predevsim pro nepopiratelnou bravurni modelaci. V roce 1953 vstoupil do umelecké skupiny UB12, ktera mohla existovat v ramci Umelecke besedy. Zde byl v uzkem kontaktu se spriznenymi tvurci, jako byl napriklad malir Vaclav Bostik, sochar Stanislav Kolibal, graficka a kreslirka Adriena Simotova, teoretik vytvarneho umeni Jiri Setlik a predevsim jeho zena socharka Vera Janouskova. Skupina se v atmosfere stale uvolnenejsim prostredi kulturni politiky od konce 50. let aktivne podili na dekonstrukci Sorely a vytvareni novych svobodnych postupu navazujici otevrene na do te doby zatracovanou Ceskoslovenskou avangardu. Jeho slibne se vyvijejici kariera sochare pro verejny prostor byla radikalne prerusena nastupujici Normalizaci. Janousek totiz svuj obcansky postoj daval verejne najevo napriklad take vytvorenim sochy „Hrozba valky“ pro ceskoslovensky pavilon na svetove vystave v Osace v roce 1970, kde zastup apokalyptickych militantnich figur kraci z naprazenymi zbranemi na ceskoslovensky pavilon od sousedniho pavilonu Sovetskeho. Po te byly jeho navrhy vylucovany z verejnych soutezi, a tak az na vzacne vyjimky mohl sve monumentalni realizace pro architekturu a krajinu pouze planovat. V roce 1986 se zdalo, ze se mu oteviraji nove moznosti pote, co mu byla dovolena retrospektivni vystava v Male galerii brnenskeho Stavoprojektu, ale tesne pred zahajenim byla cenzorsky zakazana. Vzapeti na to Vladimir Janousek 8.9. 1986 umira.
map

Crystal

Vera Janouskova, 1980 (removed 2010), polished stainless steel, Mejstrikova street, Haje, Prague 11
map

Dolphins

Ladislav Kovarik, 80th, metal, Kropackova street, Haje, Prague 11
map

Tree

author unknown, 80th, relief, metal, exterior and interior of a restaurant, Kropackova street, Haje, Prague 11
map

Drinking fountain

author unknown, 80th, stone, courtyard between Medelova street and Horcickova street, Haje, Prague 11
map

Fountain

author unknown, 80th, stone, metal, courtyard between Medelova street and Horcickova street, Haje, Prague 11
map

Day and night

Olbram Zoubek, 80th, cement, Arkalicka street, Haje, Prague 11
------------------------------

Olbram Zoubek se narodil v Praze 21. dubna 1926. Nejdrive se hlasil na umelecko-prumyslovou skolu v Praze, ale nebyl prijat a proto nastoupil na kamenosocharskou praxi u sochare Otakara Velinskeho. V letech 1945–1952, po uspesnem slozeni zkousek, studoval na Vysoke skole umeleckoprumyslove u profesora Josefa Wagnera. V roce 1951 se zacal venovat restauratorske cinnosti. Specializoval se na renesancni sgrafito a kamennou plastiku. V roce 1951 uzavrel snatek se spoluzackou, dnes svetove uznavanou socharkou Evou Kmentovou, se kterou v 60. letech realizoval nekolik abstraktnich dekorativnich objektu pro architekturu. Je clenem Unie vytvarnych umelcu, skupiny Trasa, Nove skupiny a Umelecke besedy. Zoubkuv osobity styl je charakteristicky subtilnim vytvarovánim figurativnich plastik s vyraznou vertikalitou s expresivne modelovanym povrchem, ze kterych muzeme vypozorovat vliv svycarskeho sochare Alberta Giacomettiho. Zoubek po te co z roce 1969 odlil posmrtne masky Janovi Palachovi a Janovi Zajici se mohl venovat pouze restauratorske cinnosti. Navrhy socharskych realizaci pro architekturu az do druhe poloviny 80. let mu pro jako „politickou nespolehlivost“ byly ze soutezi vetsinou vyrazovany.
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, 80th, stone, A. Male street, Haje, Praha 11
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Name unknown

author unknown, 80th, pottery, stone, at the hotel Kupa, Kupeckeho street, Prague 11
map

Relief

Lubos Moravec, 80th, stone, A. Male street, Haje, Praha 11
------------------------------

Lubos Moravec was born in Dojetrice near the city of Benesov. Between the years 1946-53 he studied at the Academy of Arts and Design in Prague under prof. J. Wagner, in whose studio he worked occasionally. He realized Wagner´s stucco relief in Kolin. Moravec has become a member of Art Forum in 1954.
map

Astronauts

Alois Fisarek, 1979, stone mosaic, west entrance to the metro station Haje, Opatovska street, Haje, Prague 11
------------------------------

Narodil se 16. 7. 1906 v Prostejove. V letech 1924 az 1929 studoval na Akademie vytvarnych umeni v Praze u prof. V. Nechleby a prof. O. Nejedleho. Od roku 1946 pusobil jako pedagog na Atelieru uziteho umeni a dekorativni malby na VSUP a po roce 1967 do roku 1975 v Atelieru malby na AVU. Jeho tvorba je charakterizovana predevsim modernistickym malirskym projevem aplikovanym pro monumentalni dekorativni mosaiky. Zahrnuje krajinomalbu, portret, zatisí a figuralni kompozice casto s lidovymi motivy. Malir Alois Fisarek zemrel 4. 2. 1980 v Praze.
map

Astronauts

Jan Bartos, 80th, bronze, at the exit of the metro station Haje, Opatovska street, Haje, Prague 11, the sculpture of two astronauts, representing the first Czech astronaut Vladimir Remek and his colleague at the station Soyuz 28 Alexei Gubarev, who have taken flight into space in 1978.
------------------------------

Sochar Jan Bartos se narodil 24. prosince roku 1947 v Praze. V letech 1963 až 1967 studoval na Stredni odborne skole vytvarne v Praze. Po ukonceni stredoskolskeho vzdelani zacal studovat socharinu na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u skveleho prof. Jiriho Bradacka. Studium zakoncil u prof. Vlastimila Vecera, kde roku 1973 absolvoval. Vyberem temat a zpusobem provedeni svych plastik snadno zapadl do mantinelu tzv. Socialistickeho realismu, proklamovanym slohem tehdejsich oficialnich vykladacu vytvarneho umeni. Realizoval hned nekolik monumentalnich plastik pro architekturu prazskych sidlist, v roce 1985 i pro stanici metra v Moskve.
map

Family

Lubos Ruzicka, 1985, limestone, courtyard between Matuskova street and Dubnova street, Prague 11, created in cooperation with Vaclav Tuma
------------------------------

Sochar, medailer a sklarsky vytvarnik Lubomir Ruzicka se narodil 7. 3. roku 1938 ve Vyskove na Morave. V letech 1955 až 1959 vystudoval Stredni umelecko-prumyslovou skolu sklarskou v Zeleznem Brode. Od roku 59 až do 65 studoval na Vysoke skole umeleckoprumyslove v Praze v Atelieru socharstvi u profesora Josefa Malejovskeho a v Atelieru skla u profesora Stanislava Libenskeho. V letech 1984 až 86 pusobil nejdrive jako asistent Atelieru kov a sperk na VSUP a posleze az do roku 1990 jako vedouci atelieru. Autor portretni a figurativni tvorby, vyznacujici se smyslem pro modernistickou plastickou zkratku a lyrickou metaforu. Od 70. let realizuje predevsim figurativni sochy nebo dekorativni plastiky koncipovane pro architekturu.
map

Youth

Jan Bartos, 1984, stone, Schulhofova street, Haje, Prague 11
------------------------------

Sochar Jan Bartos se narodil 24. prosince roku 1947 v Praze. V letech 1963 až 1967 studoval na Stredni odborne skole vytvarne v Praze. Po ukonceni stredoskolskeho vzdelani zacal studovat socharinu na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u skveleho prof. Jiriho Bradacka. Studium zakoncil u prof. Vlastimila Vecera, kde roku 1973 absolvoval. Vyberem temat a zpusobem provedeni svych plastik snadno zapadl do mantinelu tzv. Socialistickeho realismu, proklamovanym slohem tehdejsich oficialnich vykladacu vytvarneho umeni. Realizoval hned nekolik monumentalnich plastik pro architekturu prazskych sidlist, v roce 1985 i pro stanici metra v Moskve.
map

Ceramic wall

author unknown, 80th, ceramics, courtyard between Brandlova street and Chalupkova street, Prague 11
map

Sitting girl

Vladimir Kyn, 80th, stone, Hnevkovskeho street, Prague 11
map

Beam

Jaroslav Hladky, 1984, bronze, in front of a elementary school, Mikulova street, Chodov, Prague 11
------------------------------

Sochar Jaroslav Hladky se narodil 1. cervence roku 1942 v Praze. Mezi lety 1956 a 1960 studoval Stredni umeleckoprumyslovou skolu keramickou v Karlovych Varech u prof. Strnada. Po studiich na stredni skole nastoupil do socharského atelieru na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u prof. Karla Hladika. Pusobil jako pedagog na fakulte Univerzity Karlovy v Praze. Jaroslav Hladky se ve sve tvorbe zabyval predevsim realisticky pojatou figurou se sportovni tematikou pro budovy skol a sportovni arealy. V roce 1982 vytvoril pro park Folimanka legendarni sochu Skateboardista, ktera svym nametem predbehla svou dobu, bohuzel byla pri revitalizaci parku v roce 2008 odstranena.
map

Drinking fountain

author unknown, 80th, metal, stone, courtyard in the Vejvanovskeho street and Michnova street, Prague 11
map

Landscaping of Central park

Magdalena Jetelova, 80th (unfinished), landart, Central park, Prague 11
map

Memorial of the World War II victims

Jan Hana, 80th, rock, cemetery of Chodov, Leckova street, Opatov, Prague 11
------------------------------

Narodni umelec prof. Jan Hana se narodil 28. rijna 1927 v Dobronicich u Bechyne, kde zacal pracovat v tamejsi keramicke dilne. Po valce studoval kratce na Statni keramicke skole v Praze u prof. V. Vokalka, a pote pokracoval ve studiu socharstvi na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u profesora Karla Pokorneho (1945-51) a na Vytvarne akademii v Zahrebu v byvale Jugoslavii u prof. A. Antunace (1947-48). Venoval se jak socharske praci spojene s architekturou tak volne lyricke plastice, kterou predstavovaly predevsim zenske akty. Patri k prednim predstavitelum socialistickeho realismu v socharství u nas. V roce 1983 byl jmenovan profesorem specialniho socharskeho atelieru na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze. Nasledujici rok byl pak jmenovan narodnim umelcem a v roce 1985 rektorem AVU v Praze. V roce 1984 byl vyznamenan radem prezidenta Venezuely „Francesco de Miranda“ za vytvoreni pomniku Simonu Bolivarovi v Praze – Dejvicich. Mezi jeho dalsi vyznamna sousosí pro verejny prostor patri Pisen o me vlasti pro Narodni divadlo v Praze (1983) nebo Posledni den valky u Prachatic (1986)), Rozpuk zivota (Jaro) v obchodnim centru Labe v Praze – Modranech (1985), aj. Zemrel 20. zari 1994 v Praze ve veku nedozitých 67 let.
map

Question and Answer

author unknown, 80th, bronze, at the former telephone exchange, Na sadce street, Chodov, Prague 11
map

Geometric shapes

Jan Bartos, 1987, metal, Kvetnoveho vitezstvi street, Chodov, Prague 11
------------------------------

Sochar Jan Bartos se narodil 24. prosince roku 1947 v Praze. V letech 1963 až 1967 studoval na Stredni odborne skole vytvarne v Praze. Po ukonceni stredoskolskeho vzdelani zacal studovat socharinu na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze u skveleho prof. Jiriho Bradacka. Studium zakoncil u prof. Vlastimila Vecera, kde roku 1973 absolvoval. Vyberem temat a zpusobem provedeni svych plastik snadno zapadl do mantinelu tzv. Socialistickeho realismu, proklamovanym slohem tehdejsich oficialnich vykladacu vytvarneho umeni. Realizoval hned nekolik monumentalnich plastik pro architekturu prazskych sidlist, v roce 1985 i pro stanici metra v Moskve.
map

Owl

Vaclav Frydecky, 1985, bronze, Kvetnoveho vitezstvi street, Prague 11
------------------------------

Narodil se 8. zari 1931 v Olomouci. Po absolvovani jedne tridy gymnazia vstoupil do uceni k olomouckemu rezbari Jaroslavu Kubeckovi, jehoz dilna byla zamerena jeste na vyzdobu kostelu. V roce 1950 ukoncil uceni tovarysskou zkouskou a vzapeti byl prijat na Vysokou skolu umeleckoprumyslovou v Praze k prof. Bedrichu Stefanovi a prof. J. Bauchovi. V roce 1953 prestoupil k prof. Janu Laudovi na Akademii vytvarnych umeni, kde absolvoval v roce 1955. Pote nasledovali dva cestne roky studia a na podzim roku 1958 byl jmenovan asistentem prof. Jana Laudy. Ve stejnem roce take vytvoril plastiku Zemedelstvi, ktera byla soucasti expozice veleuspesneho Ceskoslovenskeho pavilonu na vystave EXPO 58. Po smrti J. Laudy byl asistentem u prof. Vincence Makovskeho, prof. Karla Hladika a nakonec u docenta Jiriho Bradacka. Frydecky se ve sve tvorbe zameril vyhradne na lidskou nebo zvireci figuru nebo modelovani znamych osobnosti. V roce 1971 s AVU odesel a venuje se monumentalni plastice.
map

Alfa

author unknown, 80th, stone, in front of a elementary school, Brodskeho street, Donovalska street, Prague 11
map

The Soviet space program

author unknown, 80th, metal, Jirovcovo namesti, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
map

Earth

Jiri Krystufek, 1986, Jirovcovo namesti, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
------------------------------

Krystufek was born on March 31th 1932 in Prague

1947 - 1950 Professional School of Ceramics in Prague
1951 - 1956 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under prof. J. Lauda
1968 - 1970 PhD at the Academy under prof. Charles Lidicky
1970 - 1990 Assistant, Assistant Professor, Professor, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Arts

Sculptor Jiri Krystufek was fortunate that his topic of life became a figure of adolescent girls. His brilliant realistic figures and portraits modeled without spiritual distortions or modernist abbreviation were seamlessly approved by the control of CFVU selection committee, which proclaimed imprecisely defined ideas of socialist realism. The author did not want any political pandering. He was really motivated by a passionate fondness for the study of the human female body especially at a fascinating moment of puberty. Aeronaut Sculpture at Posepný Square is the sculptor's only figure of boy and even that figure is considerably feminine. In case he didn´t created on demand for public space a poetic girlish nude or figure with wet drapery, he planted indifferent abstracted object inspired by flora and fauna. His quality and easygoing figurative and decorative work was easily promoted in every period of the previous regime.
map

Faun

Peter Trmac, 1984, marble, Jirovcovo namesti, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
map

Earth

Josef Vajce, 1985, travertine, bronze, Jirovcovo namesti, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
------------------------------

* 19.9.1937 Klatovy
+ 15.9.2011

He studied sculpture in Zulova 1951 - 1954.
map

Shapes

Peter Trmac, 80th, artificial stone, in front of the Policlinic, Sustova street, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
map

Banner of insurance company

author unknown, 80th, metal, glass, neon, Sustova street, Jizni mesto, Prague 11
map

Sculptural staircase

80th, ceramics, Ruze shopping mall, Hraskeho street, Prague 4
map

Objects for sitting

Alena Kroupova, 80th (removed), ceramics, Chodov metro station, Ruze shopping mall, Prague 11
------------------------------

* 2.1.1926 Tabor
+ 25.12.2002
socharka a keramicka; zacka B. Stefana a J. Kavana. Je charakterizovana uvedenim tvrde poroviny, barevne kameniny a tech. porcelanu do uzite a dekorativni keramiky (zahradni keramika, spoluprace s architekty).
map

Metro builder

Frantisek Radvan, 80th, bronze, at the exit of the metro station Chodov, Jizni mesto, Prague 11, created in cooperation with Ing. arch. Jiri Dufek, Ing. arch. Jan Marek
------------------------------

Narodil se 9.9.1922 v Radeticich. V letech 1937 až 1941 studoval odbornou skolu keramickou v Bechyni. V letech 1941 až 1946 studoval skolu Umeleckoprumyslovou v Praze a v letech 1951 až 1957 studoval na Akademii vytvarnych umeni v Praze v atelieru socharstvi u prof. Jana Laudy a prof. Karla Pokorneho.
map

Stele

author unknown, 80th, stone, glass, Pod Chodovem street, Kaplanova street, Prague 11
map

Pig on a walk

Cestmir Suska, 1990, bronze, stone, Babakova street, Roztyly, Prague 11
------------------------------

At the end of the 80th in the relaxed decadent conclusion of the period od normalization implemented in the public space sculptor Cestmir Suska, member of a new generation. He created in the style of Czech grotesque for suburbs of Prague a few monumental humorous sculptures as Knight, The Happy Prince, Thread, Pig on a walk, Giant, Whale and Frog.

His original outdoor sculptures inspired by the rock garden or totems, go beyond the period of homogeneous visual plan of suburbs development. Affinity can only be found with several other of his contemporaries like Kurt Gebauer, Ellen Jilemnicka or Jaroslav Rona (Since 1987 Suska was with Rona one of the members of the progressive group Tvrdohlavi).

The official implementation in the public areas also became for a disengaged young artist a way how to exhibit his works besides official and censored exhibition halls. He proved his funny guerrilla access in the year of 1981 by the legendary exhibition Malostranske dvorky, which was considered an example of the current genre of Site Specific Works. To the unprecedented popularity of this exhibition helped the fact that it was - as a supposedly politically dangerous - forbidden by paranoid officials of the National Committee.
map

Oscar

Jaroslav Rona, 1990, ceramics, Klboukova street, Roztyly, Prague 11
map

Graphic billboards

author unknown, 1987, metal, in front of the Culture center, Posepneho namesti, Prague 11
map

Fountain Cancer

Peter Trmac, 1988, stone, Posepneho namesti, Prague 11
map

Sun

Josef Vajce, 1988, stone, Posepneho namesti, Prague 11
map

Aeronaut

Jiri Krystufek, 1988, bronze, Posepneho namesti, Prague 11
------------------------------

Krystufek was born on March 31th 1932 in Prague

1947 - 1950 Professional School of Ceramics in Prague
1951 - 1956 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under prof. J. Lauda
1968 - 1970 PhD at the Academy under prof. Charles Lidicky
1970 - 1990 Assistant, Assistant Professor, Professor, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Arts

Sculptor Jiri Krystufek was fortunate that his topic of life became a figure of adolescent girls. His brilliant realistic figures and portraits modeled without spiritual distortions or modernist abbreviation were seamlessly approved by the control of CFVU selection committee, which proclaimed imprecisely defined ideas of socialist realism. The author did not want any political pandering. He was really motivated by a passionate fondness for the study of the human female body especially at a fascinating moment of puberty. Aeronaut Sculpture at Posepný Square is the sculptor's only figure of boy and even that figure is considerably feminine. In case he didn´t created on demand for public space a poetic girlish nude or figure with wet drapery, he planted indifferent abstracted object inspired by flora and fauna. His quality and easygoing figurative and decorative work was easily promoted in every period of the previous regime.
map

Fountain

Ceplecha Martin, 1989, metal, stone, SSM Youth Travel Agency (now the Hotel Globus), Gregerova street, Chodov, Prague 11
------------------------------

Martin Ceplecha was born in the 1954. He apprenticed as an engraver on metal and studid at UMPRUM under prof. Malejovsky. After studies Ceplecha worked as his assistant.
map

The circular target

author unknown, 80th, Turkova street, Prague
map

Spiral

author unknown, metal, Turkova street, Prague
map

Abstract sculpture

author unknown, 80th, stone, Blazimska stone, Prague 11
map

Waves of life

Jaroslav Vacek, 1987, artificial stone, Blazimska street, Prague 11,
map

Abstract sculpture

author unknown, 80th, artificial stone, metal, Klepalkova street, Prague 11
map

Kiss

Vaclav Frydecky, 1970, shell limestone, in front of the Sporilov Policlinic, Prague
map

Name unknown

author unknown, ceramics, in front of the Sporilov Policlinic, Prague
map

Girl

Bozena and Ludvik Kodymovi, 70th, limestone, at the Centrum shopping mall, Choraticka street, Sporilov, Prague 4
map

Lying woman

Jan Hana, 70th, limestone, Choraticka street, Sporilov, Prague 4
map

Mosaic

author unknown, ceramics, in front of a former cinema Sigma, Choraticka street, Sporilov, Prague
Pictures in this guide taken by: Pavel Karous, Mikulas Laub, Jan Zapotocky, janzapocky, Jakub Smolík, Vojtech Mica, Jakub Smolik, Misha We , Janek Rous, Ivana Veselková, Misha We, Misha, Pavel Dvorak, Romana Drdová, Romana Drdova, Jan Kudej, Misha

Plastic art in Prague public areas in the period of “Normalization” Map


POIs: numbers | icons View large Map

Have an iPhone or Android?

  • Map your route while you move
  • Add trip photos to your map instantly
  • Share trips right from your phone
  • Find and follow trips from other travelers

Available For:
iPhone | Android

About the Author

janzapocky
janzapocky
1 guide
view janzapocky's profile

Plastic art in Prague public areas in the period of “Normalization” 3 Day Forecast

Extended Forecast
Other Resources
How To Get There
Get directions from: