ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 Yoav Brill: Hora. Queer Film Festival Mezipatra. November 2015. ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 Dear friends of Israeli culture, The year 2015 was exceptional in several ways. In April, it has been exactly 25 years since the first visit of Czechoslovak president to Israel: Václav Havel in April 1990 celebrated in this way the freshly renewed diplomatic ties between the two countries. Václav Havel’s legacy, very much valued in Israel, was remembered and relived through a large series of events, from discussions with notable guests to jazz and rock concerts and children workshops. We all had a lot of fun! Also, the Czech city of Pilsen was the European Capital of Culture in 2015. And Israeli culture was a significant part of the programme: in June, the days of Jerusalem expanded from Prague to Pilsen with a wide scale of events from fashion shows and art exhibitions to film screenings and dance performances. Throughout the rest of the year, the Pilsen audience could attend more Israeli events – puppet theatre performances, street music, and much more. The biggest joint exhibition of Czech and Israeli conceptual artists ever took place in the Prague Mekka of contemporary art, MeetFactory. And the established connections are about to develop in 2016, which makes us really happy. We cannot omit to mention dance: it has always been a big part of the Czech-Israeli cultural exchange, but in 2015, it has reached new heights: the living legend Ohad Naharin came to Prague twice within a month to first work with the dancers of National Theater on his choreography Decadance, very successfully staged until now, and then to be present at his Bathseva’s performance at Dance Prague festival gala evening, once again to a massive acclaim. Besides these two astonishing choreographies, in 2015 the Czech audience had the opportunity to see 6 more dance performances and participate in Israeli dance workshops, watch over 30 Israeli movies at various festivals, listen to more than 50 musicians/bands from Israel, go to theatre to one of Israeli plays performed by Czech actors or enjoy one of the great art exhibitions. We have also followed up on the successful fashion events from 2014 and brought again several amazing designers from Israel, including Danit Peleg with her revolutionary 3D printed clothes. For the first time, an Israeli graphic novel was presented in the Czech Republic – big style: the Mike’s Place book celebrated huge success among hundreds of high school and university students all around the country who had the chance to engage in a discussion with its authors. And there was a prize waiting for those following Israeli culture: The embassy in cooperation with Czech Radio’s progressive radio station Wave prepared a week-long series about Israeli culture combined with a competition for a trip to Israel with the Travelove agency. The lucky couple surely enjoyed it! If you did not have the chance, we hope we gave you at least a taste of Israel through cultural events. And we will continue to do so in the years to come. Jitka Pánek Jurková Head of Cultural Affairs Embassy of Israel, Prague 2 Embassy of Israel, Prague ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 Contents VÁCLAV HAVEL AND ISRAEL ............................................................................................................ 4 DAYS OF JERUSALEM ...................................................................................................................... 6 MUSIC .................................................................................................................................................. 8 ARCHITECTURE ................................................................................................................................ 13 THEATRE ........................................................................................................................................... 21 DANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 24 FILM ................................................................................................................................................... 27 PHOTOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................ 30 LITERATURE ..................................................................................................................................... 32 ART AND DESIGN ............................................................................................................................ 34 OTHER ............................................................................................................................................... 37 3 Embassy of Israel, Prague ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 VÁCLAV HAVEL AND ISRAEL: 25th ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS’ RENEWAL Václav Havel was the first President of Czechoslovakia and the first leader of a post-Communist country to visit the State of Israel. In 1990, he among others discussed with the Israeli President Haim Herzog the possibility of holding peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians in Prague, and the exodus of Soviet Jews through Czechoslovakia. During his visit to Jerusalem, Havel delivered the speech Kafka and My Presidency at the Hebrew University. Since that time, the Czech Republic and Israel have been developing and strengthening the historical ties rediscovered by Vaclav Havel 25 years ago. A series of related events was prepared by the Embassy of Israel in collaboration with multiple partners throughout the Czech Republic. On the actual anniversary of Havel’s visit to Israel, a discussion panel with distinguished guests took place in the Václav Havel Library in Prague. A less formal series of events were held in the Vinohrady Brewery, and several other large events were dedicated to the anniversary as well. PANEL DISCUSSION „JOURNEY TO ISRAEL“ April 28, 3 pm - 7 pm, Václav Havel Library, Prague April 28, 9 pm, Vinohrady Brewery The first panel,The 1990 Journey to Israel introduced members of the 1990 delegation Michael Žantovský, Milan Kňažko and Alexandr Vondra, the former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Moshe Arens and first Ambassador of Israel to Prague Yoel Sher. The second panel, Czech Republic and Israel Today: The Legacy of Vaclav Havel, moderated by Tomáš Pojar, hosted the former Ambassadors Daniel Kumermann and Jiří Schneider, the political scientist. Shlomo Avineri and the translator Magdalena Křížová. The event was part of the Vaclav Havel library series "Our return to the map of the world." After the discussions, Czech-Israeli rock party Garage vs. Malox took place at Vinohrady Brewery. Malox then also played in Pardubice and Karlovy Vary. http://www.vaclavhavel-library.org/en/index/calendar/796/cesta-do-izraele https://www.facebook.com/events/789047294508675/ 4 Embassy of Israel, Prague ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 VÁCLAV HAVEL AND ISRAEL AT VINOHRADY BREWERY The other events commemorating the 25th anniversary of renewal of diplomatic ties between the then Czechoslovakia and Israel included: Audience by Václav Havel performed by Theatre Na tahu: April 19, 8 pm Screening of Bricha, discussion with film makers: April 21, 8 pm Documentary from the series of Between a Star and a Crescent presented the key role of the small Czechoslovakia in the great Middle East. Introduced by the creators of the movie, Petr Bok and Martin Šmok. Czech or Hebrew? Playing with letters: April 26, 4:30 pm Workshop on Czech and Hebrew alphabet for children by Ulpan language school . Author's reading of the book Havel by Michael Žantovský: April 27, 8 pm Author presentation of the celebrated new memoir about Václav Havel by his friend and spokesman Michael Žantovský. Authentic images: whole week, daily from 5 pm to 8 pm Videoart by Jakub Daníček plays with moments from Havel's first visit of Israel. THE MYSTERY OF MAN BY EMIL VIKLICKY December 19, 7:30 pm, Clementinum Mirror Chapel, Prague The Mystery of Man by the renowned Czech jazz pianist and composer Emil Viklicky is based on texts by the late President Václav Havel. The piece was performed by the Czech-Israeli cast in Clementinum Mirror Chapel and together with the Czech star actors (Táňa Medvecká, Jaromír Meduna) and musicians (Emil Viklický, Miroslav Hloucal, Josef Fečo, Tomáš Hobzek) Israeli saxophonist Shlomi Goldenberg performed as a guest of honour. The concert closed a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of Vaclav Havel's first presidential visit to Israel and renewal of Czech-Israeli diplomatic relations. 5 Embassy of Israel, Prague ISRAELI CULTURE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2015 DAYS OF JERUSALEM Days of Jerusalem is a unique international festival with an established tradition in the Czech Republic. The aim of the festival is to give its visitors an idea about the reality of a city of Jerusalem which is intimately linked to European culture despite its distance in space and time. The festival wants to serve as a platform for meetings and debates as well as a platform for confrontation of a diverse spectrum of artistic views and directions, which have been dynamically evolving in the heart of this ancient cultural, spiritual and civilizational centre for centuries. The 2016 Days of Jerusalem were already a 3rd year of the festival, for the first time expanding outside of Prague also to the city