Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West German exile. His album
Bratříčku, Zavírej Vrátka
(O' Brother, Shut the Door)
came to symbolise the hopelessness of the Soviet-led invasion and the decades that
followed.
The Velvet Revolution opened the door to a flood of influences from around the
world. Early-'90s Czech bands such as rockers Lucie and Žlutý pes soon gave way to
a variety of sounds, from the Nina Hagen-like screeching of Lucie Bílá to the avant
garde chirping of Iva Bittová, in addition to a flood of mainstream Czech acts. The
best of these included Psí Vojáci, Buty, Laura a její tygři, Už jsme doma, and Support
Lesbiens. Currently, the most popular acts include hard-rockers Kabát, pop balladeer
Kryštof, and the softer folk band Čechomor.
Communist-era singers Helena Vondráčková and Karel Gott are still going
strong today. Vondráčková turned 65 in 2012 and Gott is in his seventies.
VISUAL ARTS
Ask about Czech visual arts and many visitors will probably draw a blank. Some may
be able to conjure up art nouveau images by Alfons Mucha, but that's about it.
However, the country has much more to offer than Mucha's sultry maidens. Prague
has both a long tradition of avant garde photography and a rich heritage of public
sculpture, ranging from the baroque period to the present day.
For decades, Mucha's
Slav Epic
was on display in the town of Moravský
Krumlov, about 200km southeast of Prague. In 2011, the panels were
moved to Prague and as this topic goes to press they are still awaiting a
permanent display space.
Painting
The Czech Republic can look back on at least seven centuries of painting, starting
with the luminously realistic 14th-century works of Magister Theodoricus (Master
Theodorus). His paintings, which hang in the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Karlštejn
Castle and in the Chapel of St Wenceslas in St Vitus Cathedral, influenced art
throughout Central Europe. Another gem of Czech Gothic art is a late-14th-century
altar panel by an artist known only as the Master of the Třeboň Altar; what remains of
it is at the Convent of St Agnes in Prague's Old Town.
