In October 1989, Vaclav Havel was not yet theworld-renowned philosopher-king; he was merely a playwright and adissident, always in trouble with the communists who opressed theCzech people for four decades.
That month he was awarded in absentia a PeacePrize in Frankfurt, Germany. His acceptance speech was transformed bytwo artists into an outstanding example of graphic design. The textwas designed by the distinguished Czech-American graphic artistGeorge Sadek, with collaged illustrations by the Czech poet andartist Jiri Kolar, based on the text settings and illuminations ofthe 42-line Gutenberg Bible. Kolar's work reflects the central themeof Havel's speech: the power of words.
The result of this joint effort is a special workof art -- an oversized, case-bound volume, published in a limitededition in Czech and English. Fourteen large-scale pages of theportfolio will be on display at the Museum of European Art inClarence, New York, composed of passages of Havel's address in sevendifferent languages. He passionately argues the dangers ofirresponsible and manipulative use of words by totalitarianregimes.
The exhibition A Word About Words was prepared bythe Cooper Union of New York. It was on display in Prague in 1993,and earlier this year for three months at the Corcoran Gallery of Artin Washington, D.C. The exhibition includes an English translation ofthe text.
The exhibition will be opened by the CzechAmbassador in Washington Michael Zantovsky, who had participated inthe underground ceremony in Prague in 1989, at which Havel wassymbolically presented the prize by a close circle of his dissidentfriends. It was only several weeks before the Czech "velvetrevolution" overthrew the Communist regime and Havel was electedpresident.
Concurrently there will be a showing of"Impressions of America", a series color photographs by the visitingPrague photographer and designer Jana Buriankova. The artist willalso attend the opening of the exhibition in Clarence and present herwork.
The exhibitions were brought to Clarence on theoccasion of the appointment of B. John Zavrel as the first HonoraryConsul of the Czech Republic in New York. "The country is rapidlygetting integrated into the free world, and has become an example ofsuccess and stability among the former east block countries. TheCzech Consulate, located at 10545 Main Street in Clarence, New York,will provide reliable information to tourists, as well as develop andsupport cultural and business contacts between the two countires,"said the new consul.
The exhibition took place from April 8 to May 31,1995 at the Museum of European Art, 10545 Main Street, Clarence, N.Y.14031 (USA).
We recommend these books:
TheGarden Party and Other Plays, by Vaclav Havel
LargoDesolato, by Vaclav Havel
Primerfor Those Who Would Govern, by Hermann Oberth
SevenYears in Tibet, by Heinrich Harrer
ArnoBreker: The Divine Beauty in Art, by B. John Zavrel
Mantraand Meditation, by Dr. Usharbudh Arya