VYSTAVIŠTĚ HOLEŠOVICE
Vystaviště Holešovice was originally built as an exhibition ground in 1891 for Prague’s Jubilee Exhibition, showcasing Czech industry, technical innovation and culture. The area has been going through constant change since its inception as a number of buildings vanished mainly due to fire and floods. Thirty years ago, the area was still crowded by small pavilions, while the latest new buildings were built for the 100year anniversary exhibition. During the soviet era, Vystaviště was repurposed into a fun park - rather used for entertainment than exhibiting, while promoting innovative cinematic approaches. The only building remaining entirely original in its function, is Marold’s panorama, showing a 11 m high and 95 m long painting.
Composed of architectural artifacts from over a century, Vystaviště bears a slightly surreal impression. In this regard, the area can be seen as an exhibition of experimental architecture itself, thus, when empty, it remains hued by the atmosphere of an abundant fun fair. Other than for the mostly commercial trade fair exhibitions, it doesn’t seem to be used anymore in its original purpose which it is named after.
photographs by Jack Laing Aiken
VYSTAVIŠTĚ HOLEŠOVICE
Vystaviště Holešovice was originally built as an exhibition ground in 1891 for Prague’s Jubilee Exhibition, showcasing Czech industry, technical innovation and culture. The area has been going through constant change since its inception as a number of buildings vanished mainly due to fire and floods. Thirty years ago, the area was still crowded by small pavilions, while the latest new buildings were built for the 100year anniversary exhibition. During the soviet era, Vystaviště was repurposed into a fun park - rather used for entertainment than exhibiting, while promoting innovative cinematic approaches. The only building remaining entirely original in its function, is Marold’s panorama, showing a 11 m high and 95 m long painting.
Composed of architectural artifacts from over a century, Vystaviště bears a slightly surreal impression. In this regard, the area can be seen as an exhibition of experimental architecture itself, thus, when empty, it remains hued by the atmosphere of an abundant fun fair. Other than for the mostly commercial trade fair exhibitions, it doesn’t seem to be used anymore in its original purpose which it is named after.
Originally displaying innovation in all fields to an international public, it used to be a place to look into the future; now being a place to look into the past, once again already in reconstruction. Throughout its history, Vystaviště has always been a place of gazing, national representation and constant change, that now is to be made attractive to the public again.
Within this exhibition project more directions seem possible: reminding to the partially vanished architectural playground, questioning the border between Fine Arts and entertainment culture and reminding to the original meaning of Vystaviště as an exhibition area, simply by using it as such.
