Amazing Prague Projects in 2020 and a Peek into 2021 – Part 1
This year, I once again had the chance to interview some of the extraordinary people of Prague. We talked about what’s close to their hearts and what makes them tick. But what happened with their projects in 2020? Where are they now? And – Will they give us a peek into 2021?
Here are the stories of the interviewees of the first half of 2020.
Bára Golasowská
Bára is a Prague based painter. She was born in Havířov in North Moravia and had her first exhibition when she was seven. She finds inspiration mainly in positive emotions, traveling, time spent in nature, and interesting people.
In January I took you for a tour at Bára’s painting exhibition opening at Žižkovšiška
And in our interview, Bára shared what her art is about, what influenced her on her art journey, and what she struggled with along the way.
What were the most important projects in 2020 for you?
“The exhibition of my paintings at the Passage of Czech Design (by the Czech National Bank) at Na Příkopě 23.”
Peek into 2021 – What are you planning?
“An exhibition at Lucerna Café in Prague in March and if all goes well, I’m going to take part in the Art Prague Fair in autumn.”
Wish for the New Year
“I wish readers enough colors to paint the year the way they want, and most importantly good mood and health!”
You can follow Bára here:
Gordon’s Žižkovšiška
Gordon let his and our dreams come true when he brought the Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live band to žižkovšiška in February. We danced, we sang, we laughed and we yelled.
Read the story about Gordon’s project HERE!
What were the most important projects in 2020 for you?
“I would say on a professional level our involvement with the Roztoč Fest 2020 and the series of concerts we did with Iva Bittova are the highlights of the year as was.”
“Otherwise Covid put an end to almost all projects this year. We are working in the bigger picture in terms of the club and its significance to the world around us and the far-reaching effect that our community is part of. So being shut down for 10 months kinda’ takes the wind out of the sails, it certainly delivers a major blow to momentum, and of course, in isolation, we are then divided and conquered. As a glimmer of hope and on a more personal level I have to say that having had such downtime has done me as a human soul a lot of good and I will return with a whole lot of fresh energy and enthusiasm. Reborn. Which at my age is a very nice result.”
Peek into 2021 – What are you planning?
“The world can get on with itself again. Our club will continue where it left off. Actually, the March lockdown began a few weeks before we should celebrate our 3rd birthday on Husitska. I get the response from people who attend the club that they like what and how we do there, so I am inclined to accept the if it aint’ broken then don’t fix it motto.”
“In fact, we had just finished the first to-do list as drafted in the first weeks in Husitska – all the internal renovations and reworking of the space to make it good for us and our guests. Most of that work is invisible such as electrics, electronics, sound systems, bar systems, and ventilation. All of which had to be done as the space ran and could afford such upgrades.”
“The club was born only from the heart, there was no money behind it and it as a room was rented a week before we opened it and as I say we have been working on it ever since. So yes this year now finally I hope that we can live in the space we created and turn our attention to simply enjoying the place, the people, and the programme that we love to share.”
Wish for the New Year
“I would wish for people to try harder, think about every reaction to being correct and respectful and responsible to the World we share. When this Virus and the Trump era ends we are once again facing the mirror as we perceive it, only we can make it into a place that we can be proud of and a place that can harmonize with us. Each and every one of us must decide in every little thing we do or consume or demand or believe to take the path away from the doom and onward to the light. Together we can solve and resolve. You are the question and love is the answer.”
You can follow Žižkovšiška here:
Klez Brandar
Klez is a photographer and traveler born in Nantes. We met at the beginning of this year to talk about his own artistic journey and his exhibition Lusk Dizehan // 05 which opened mid-February at Ponrepo.
What were the most important projects in 2020 for you?
”Since February, I couldn’t make any exhibitions, but I’ve been working on the next edition of Lusk Dizehan. This time it’s going to be a photo exhibition together with a book and an audiobook. I’ve been finalizing the texts that I wrote for each picture (21), recording the audiobook in 3 languages, and recording the music that goes with the audiobook, in between the chapters.”
”Apart from this, I released a punk song called Kerouac Is Dead. We made a funny video clip with around 15 people involved. I really needed to do something fun… to balance some of my work that was pretty serious. So I also released a funny French song with the ’90s spirit called Les Sept Pas Ascètes. It’s a story of 7 people going out and getting drunk until the morning. I guess that seeing society becoming so sleepy, bored, and scared pushed me to do these two punks songs.”
“Then, you might also have seen a short movie by me called My Obsession, which was shown at the Paris Surf and Skateboard Film Festival.”
Peek into 2021 – What are you planning?
“I plan to exhibit Lusk Dizehan // 06 as soon as we’re allowed to gather people together without restrictions. Then, we will publish the book and I’m thinking about writing my first short movie. But so far, this is only in my mind.”
“Finally, I will probably need some time to relax and stop doing things because not doing anything is doing something and in the long term, it helps a lot the creativity and happiness.”
Wish for the New Year
“I wish us all to be able to meet again, to go to concerts, exhibitions and do sports. I wish us all, fun, commitment, love, freedom, and strength.”
You can follow Klez here:
Jiří Flígl’s Kino Aero
The Shockproof Film Festival at Aero was the last of the Prague film festivals that managed to run till the end in March. Just three days later most of the cinemas were shut down. But before all that, I sat down with Jiří Flígl, the chief of Aero, to get some insider information about the festival organization. Jiří offered passionate testimony and added some cool movie tips.
Do you miss going to the movies? Try this out – 5 cinemas got together to offer all cinephiles out there a way to enjoy a cinema-like atmosphere from their homes, “Introductions, audience reactions, the company of friends, and at the same time you’ll be supporting your favorite cinema in a difficult time.” To learn more about how it all works and the program visit the following links:
Univerzitní kino Scala 👉 Check the program
Kino Světozor 👉 Check the program
Přítomnost 👉 Check the program
Heidi Koelle
Heidi is a traveler and digital nomad born in the US. We got together to talk about her relationship with Prague, the bright and dark sides of remote freelance work, and the lessons she’s learned.
For the first time on the blog, there was also a video part of the interview.
What were the most important projects in 2020 for you?
“I had a few projects get canceled over Covid including the biggest project of moving to Prague in 2020. I did manage to deal with a lockdown in three different countries. So I guess there is that. I did get around to studying some languages, though. I decided to improve my Spanish and raise my French skills from the dead.”
Peek into 2021 – What are you planning?
“I hope I can move back to Prague.”
Wish for the New Year
“I hope people get in the next year what they did not get this year. I hope that more people will decide to embrace science. Please take the vaccine when it becomes available, and follow the experts’ advice.”
Heidi is a Geopolitics graduate and leverages her background and experience on her travel blog. Currently in Slovenia, learn how she deals with the crises.
Follow her journey on her blog, The Southern Space Cadet:
Marley Wildthing
Marley is a Prague based singer and songwriter born in Austria. In May, she released a music video called No Room, and here’s what happened behind the scenes. In the interview with her, Marley talks about becoming a musician and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
And she sums up the juicy details in under 9 minutes in this video:
What were the most important projects in 2020 for you?
“I went into 2020 wanting to spend more quality time for myself and not overwork. I did a Brazil trip in February for three weeks that was only focused on relaxing and experiencing things without a smartphone. Shortly after, I ended up being in lockdown at my family’s place, spending time with my boyfriend, mom, and sister that I usually would have never had (since I live in another country). So, even though I focused on my music, starting the Wildflower EP and working on my solo album, I think the biggest ‘project’ was getting closer to my family, getting better in my relationship, and feeling at home in my home country again.”
Peek into 2021 – What are you planning?
“MUSIC ❤ I can’t wait to play live again, and also I will release an EP with my boyfriend and an album later that year. Ah, it’s gonna be very exciting.”
Wish for the New Year
“I hope very much that this year, although it was hard, helped you to get closer to yourself, to your dear ones and maybe cleared up some things in life. And that, once this strange time is over, you can use this experience to be more content and balanced.”
You can follow Marley here:
READ THE SECOND PART OF THE STORIES HERE
I hope you found these stories inspiring. Let me know what you think and/or share what were your successes in 2020 on my Facebook Page. And if you don’t wanna miss the next post, subscribe below and follow my Facebook Page. Hope to see you soon!
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