Celebration of Life 2017—1959

22/03/2024—07/03/2027

curated by Miloslav Vorlíček

Contemporary art gallery with sculptures and paintings on display, monochrome theme, wooden floor.

The Lidice Massacre and the subsequent reaction to this horrific act led to significant solidarity events around the world. One of the most important ones was the foundation of the Lidice Shall Live in Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom.

British doctor Sir Barnett Stross MP (1899–1967) co-founded the movement shortly after the Massacre. It established a solidarity fund that ensured that new Lidice were built after the war.

Ayşe Erkmen, Joseph Beuys, Artur Degner, Jean Effel, Guido Di Fidio, Sanja Iveković, Alfredo Jaar, Mona Hatoum, Gülsün Karamustafa, Anna Kindynnis, Alicja Kwade, Ruskin Spear, Robert Wolfgang Schnell, Toni Mau, George Kotsonis, Eva Kmentová, Ján Mudroch, Roman Opałka, Blinky Palermo, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Vojtěch Tittelbach, Tót Endre, Kara Vaca, Jitka Válová, Květa Válová, Lawrence Wiener, Lambert Maria Wintersberger and Olbram Zoubek.

Gallery exhibition with monochrome paintings depicting somber scenes and the word 'Lidice' on the wall.

Stross's engagement with Lidice continued. In 1955, he founded the Rose Garden of Peace and Friendship, which is now located between New and Old Lidice.

In 1966, he initiated the founding of the Lidice Art Collection. In his initiation letter, he noted that the new collection would commemorate the Massacre and celebrate the new life that flourished in Lidice since the end of the War.

"This small private gallery in West Berlin organised an exhibition "Hommage à Lidice" (1967) with artists of the West German avant-garde…we wanted to bring these works behind the Iron Curtain like a Trojan Horse…"

- René Block, gallerist, curator and the largest donor to Lidice Art Collection

Black and white photo of art gallery with paintings and sculptures

Celebration of Life explores the complicated history of the Lidice Art Collection. For the first time, it examines the collection through the eyes of its founder. 

Bringing together works that have never been exhibited alongside the most famous pieces by artists such as Gerhard Richter, Mona Hatoumn, and Jitka Válová. Come and experience this excellent show directly in Lidice Gallery.

Exhibition Partner

ArtMap

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