Prague, May 11 – 21, 2023, https://ctyridny.cz
4+4 days in motion is an annual art festival that takes place at a different location in Prague every year. The location of the art exhibition is usually an unused building prior to a new redevelopment. It seems that the Golf Center Erpet in Prague Smichov was the site of the festival for a second year in a row. For me it was the first time to this site. The last time I visited in 2021, the exhibition took place in an abandoned school in Prague Strasnice.
The festival itself is not only an art exhibition but comprises also music and theatre performances, lectures, workshops etc. This report limits itself to the exhibition at the Erpet Golf Center.
The site itself was quite special, a large indoor golf course with artificial trees, artificial grass and an artificial waterfall. Outside of the building there was a pool complex, as well as tennis courts and football pitches. The large pool was drained and was used as an downwards inverted stage for a DJ to play during the opening night. It was a cool location.
The exhibition itself made use of the existing architecture of the building. Carpets, tiles and wallpapers were left intact. Artworks were installed in what used to be a sauna and on the walls of the squash courts marked by rubber ball residues. The main space of the golf landscape was dimly lit, giving it a feeling similar to a theatre stage. Visitors were freely wandering around it.
The special atmosphere of the space demanded also a strong presence of the individual artworks. Here some works stood the test better than others. But overall I would say it was a very well balanced show. It was a holistic experience, which can be sometimes hard to break down into individual pieces and feelings they aroused.
Two view of Jiri Pitrmuc´ installation made of men´s business shirts. “My life is great.” reads the caption on the cardboard.
A work on the tennis lawn, a photograph printed on canvas showing a little baby inspecting a sculpture protected in a glass vitrine. “Somewhere” and “elsewhere” read the grey captions spray-painted on the tennis court. Probably a work by David Bohm and Jiri Franta. A heavy grey sky above.
