Documenting Růžena

 Růžena Zátková by Mestrovic : Prague, CZ

As I stated earlier, the whole point of this recent trip to Prague was to film the exhibit featuring the artwork of Maya's great-grandmother, Růžena Zátková. The exhibit closes today (31 July) and this art may not be seen again for several years. (The curator, Alena Pomajzlova, is hoping to do a similar exhibit in Italy in a couple of years, but that remains to be seen.) Maya hired a camera man--a lovely expat Aussie named Kieran D'Arcy--and Monday was spent shooting Růžena's art and interviewing Alena.

Lights! Camera! Action! : Prague, CZ

Left to right in the photo above: Dr Alena Pomajzlova of the University of Brno and the curator of the exhibit, Ms Maya Lucchitta, great-granddaughter of the artist, and Mr Kieran D'Arcy, videographer.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Růžena Zátková

Sculpture of Růžena Zátková by the Jugoslavian artist Ivan Meštrović :
Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

The whole purpose of the trip to Prague was to participate in several events related to the life and work of Czech artist and futurist, Růžena Zátková. Růžena is Maya's great-grandmother and her father's grandmother.

Her most famous work is on the left in the background, but her art was wide-ranging and
shows her mind, craft, and skill evolving over time and as a result of extraordinary
opportunities and jarring life experiences : Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

A few years ago, very tenacious researcher at the Prague Museum of Art named Alena Pomajzlova started looking into the life of Růžena. The final result is a monograph about the life of this lesser-known Czech artist and an entire exhibit at the Prague Castle featuring her work. Růžena Zátková died at the age of 38 in Leysin, Switzerland, of tuberculosis. She is buried in Prague.

Dr Ivo Lucchitta, grandson of Růžena Zátková, as seen through his
grandmother's sculpture : Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

To see photos taken by Maya at this exhibition, go here. You can also visit my Picasa Web Album to see a few more pictures of Růžena's art. If you're visiting Prague any time soon, be sure to see this exhibit.

Last Look : Růžena Zátková Exhibit :
Imperial Stables : Prague Castle : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11