Kunsthalle Praha unveils Memory of Touch – an exhibition exploring a rich collection of historical, post-war and contemporary artworks in dialogue.
The non-profit museum of modern and contemporary art invites art lovers of all ages to yet another exciting experience. AAU students get a free membership for all those under 26 and a six minute walk from the campus.
Memory of Touch: Chapter 1 takes vulnerability and turns it into an aesthetic and political strategy through conceptual, visual and material explorations of both invited artists and those from the Czech scene. Despite the vast rooms of the museum, the artworks are in active dialogue that echoes from one wall to the next. Vinyl records, oil canvases, film strips, solar-powered LEDs, short films and so many more material forms are all buzzing about the current uncertainties of today.
Traces of the early avant-garde experiments and post-war practices following the heavy censorship and repression in Czechia are felt through the unique juxtaposition of the materials. No stanchions or red lines, the visitors are free to get up-close and fully immerse themselves. Memory of Touch is a peculiar yet intimate experience, hard to describe and only possible to understand in person.
Much like the artworks, many young adults speak of tomorrow’s uncertainty and potential doom. The need for tranquil places that foster community and allow rest away from the screens is growing day by day. Kunsthalle Praha is one of those third spaces, safe from all the hustle and bustle.
Apart from its stream of exhibitions, there is so much more to explore. The first floor greets with a design shop full of curiosities like funky decor, stylized board games, books and tote bags. The third floor’s cafe is fragrant with fresh coffee and desserts.
If the inside of the cafe is too dim and calm, the terrace offers fresh air and a beautiful view of the Prague Castle. Neighboring the cafe is a little bookshop, perfect for some quiet lounging and reading.
Two fun activities hide between exhibition halls – a monitor that displays whatever you draw from the ceiling to the floor right next to it and an interactive room that has the CTRL+Play installation, where you can DJ with the sounds of 3D printers.
Unlike Kunsthalle’s doors, which are open all week apart from Tuesday, Memory of Touch: Chapter 1 is free to see only until Oct. 8. The second chapter will reveal more artworks from the collection on Nov. 13.
The exhibition also offers special programmes like studio visits with selected exhibiting artists, lectures on the behind-the-scenes process of the collection, a special performance by artist Lukáš Hofmann and a guided tour with the curators themselves.
