A Pilgrim Who Returns
Severočeská galerie výtvarného umění v Litoměřicích
15.09.2020 - 31.10.2020
"Whether we observe God's or human nature and deeds as they are still seen in our progress, whether we observe God's predictions of the last state of the world before entering eternity, everything commands us to hope for greater and better things of the past.”
Jan Amos Comenius, Via lucis, (1641-1642)
The title of the exhibition of the Art Department of Umelecka beseda is inspired by the book of poems of the same name by Jozef Tkadlec (Samuel Verner) published in 1942 on the occasion of the thirtieth fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Jan Amos Comenius. At the beginning of the book, its basic floor plan is given: "Three paintings from the life of Jan Amos Comenius arranged in three stages of The Under he heavenly school: Nature, Return in Himself, Kingdom of God". These three "stages" will also serve as thematic starting points for the selection of works of art, ie as a conceptual structure of the exhibition itself. It is certainly worth mentioning that this year is the third fiftieth anniversary of the death of Jan Amos Comenius, whose fate, ideals and legacy are increasingly important in today's world.
The title of the exhibition also playfully refers to the fact that the Art Department of Umelecka beseda returns to the "crime scene" after eleven years: in 2009, the successful the Art Department of Umelecka beseda “Eternal Transience” exhibition took place in the former Jesuit church in Litomerice. We believe that this time too we will be able to create a stimulating dialogue between the spirit of the Baroque and the artistic expressions of the present.
Curatedy by Richard Drury
Milos Sejn: Wandering with K. H. Mácha, 1967, site-specific slideshow
A pilgrim who returns