Escape (from) Reality
Žižka, Janatková, Heffernanová, Eliášová, Jakl (Czech republic)
- Saturday Oct 12 / 14:00+15:00+16:00+17:00, park and zámek Veleslavín
A group of artists will creatively engage with the powerful site of the former lung and nerve sanatorium at Veleslavín Chateau. Their site-specific project aims to illuminate the interwoven threads that link the historical roots of the medieval village, the pressing need for prioritizing mental and physical well-being, and the imperative to safeguard this architectural gem with its rich past. The chateau and its surrounding park will be reimagined as the “patient” in this project, receiving a unique form of creative “therapy.” The artistic performances will draw inspiration from both the physical layout of the baroque park and chateau, and the metaphorical representation of the human body—with the brain, heart, and spine serving as conceptual anchors for the dance, music, visual, and performative elements. Additionally, the project seeks to underscore the importance of revitalizing this cultural landmark for leisure, cultural, and artistic activities. This revitalization could potentially include the establishment of a center focused on fostering health and intergenerational connections among the people of Prague. The site’s rich and intriguing history lends itself to the exploration of memory as a foundation for continuing past positive endeavors and as a catalyst for promoting mental well-being, stimulating thought, and nurturing the dreams and visions that can foster collaboration within the local community.
Through a place, its history and character, we discover what is called home, “our place” in the world. (…) “People live in the city, but the city does not have to live with them. There can be a gap, a crack, an awkward silence, an empty space between a person and their city.” (Anna Beáta Hablová: Nemísta měst. Host, 2020)
Project length: 45 min
Venue: Park and Chateau Veleslavín
Veleslavín Chateau, originally at the heart of a medieval village, sits nestled atop a hill overlooking a gently sloping, marshy valley. Likely constructed between 1730 and 1750 by the estate’s owner, this single-story Baroque building is believed to have been designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. At the end of the 19th century, the farm buildings were demolished, and at the beginning of the 20th century (1912), the chateau was extended with short neo-Baroque wings. The chateau is associated with a number of important personalities. In 1910, cousins Leo Kosák and Oskar Fischer purchased the property and transformed it into a sanatorium for lung and nerve disorders. Oskar Fischer, working independently of Alois Alzheimer, conducted research and identified Alzheimer’s disease. Tragically, Oskar Fischer perished in the Terezín ghetto in 1942, and Leo Kosák met a similar fate in Auschwitz in 1944. The sanatorium’s legacy includes notable patients such as architect Adolf Loos, writer Milena Jesenská, and Charlotta Masaryk. Upon his return from exile, T. G. Masaryk first sought refuge at the chateau, later establishing an office there. The renowned poet Rainer Maria Rilke was also a frequent guest. From the 1950s onwards, the property remained under state ownership, continuing its medical function until recent years. Since the autumn of 2018, it has stood vacant and neglected. In 2019 the park was transformed into a community garden, serving residents of Prague 6 and beyond.
Mirka Eliášová is a choreographer and performer. She’s a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where she currently works as an instructor. In addition, she inspires dancers of all ages and abilities at the Klapkova Art School in Prague and leads workshops to educate and promote dance. She creates engaging interactive performances for children, experimental pieces for adults, and unique site-specific projects. She’s the co-founder of the creative group Eli a kol.
Milli Janatková is a performer, musician, and visual artist bridging genres and artistic disciplines. In addition to painting and printmaking, her creative expression includes improvisation, composition, singing, and playing guitar and percussion. Since 2008, she has been masterfully weaving these artistic threads together. She has also composed music for dance and acrobatic performances, including visual arts and crafts. With four albums to her name – Proměna (Transformation, 2013), Mým kořenům (To My Roots, 2017), Hluboko (Deep, 2020), and Klid, prosím! (Calm, Please!, 2022), Milli has earned recognition at The Independent Music Awards and LIT Talent Awards and a nomination at the Classic Prague Awards (Crossover). Her music delves into themes of mental and physical well-being, responsibility, and self-discovery, drawing inspiration from her personal, familial, and cultural history.
Jiří Jakl, a FAMU graduate, is a versatile artist working in sound direction, composition, and dramaturgy. His primary focus lies in electroacoustic music and sound technologies, where he creatively manipulates authentic sounds. He collaborates mainly on dance projects. He is a co-founder of the artistic group Eli a kol.
Tomáš Žižka is a multifaceted figure in the performing arts, excelling as a scenographer, teacher, director, and performer. He’s known for leading site-specific projects and a wide range of workshops for amateur and professional theater artists. His creative endeavors often involve collaborations with diverse talents, including theater makers, artists, dancers, musicians, and individuals from various non-artistic fields, resulting in innovative and experimental works.
Jana Heffernanová works as a linguist, a translator, and a psychologist. In addition to psychology, she delves into the worlds of comparative mythology and specializes in dream work, guiding dream groups. Her monumental trilogy, Příběhů cesty na Sever (Stories of the Journey to the North), stands as a unique achievement, compiling 500 dreams dreamt by the author over more than 15 years. As a literary scholar and linguist, she focused on translation theory and old Bohemian legends. In 1980, she relocated to the U.S. to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she worked on the literary legacy of linguist Roman Jakobson. Subsequently, she joined Harvard University’s Ukrainian Research Institute, contributing as a researcher and translator of Old Ukrainian religious and historical texts for the ambitious project One Thousand Years of Kyivan Rus.
Project creators and performers: Tomáš Žižka, Milli Janatková, Jana Heffernanová, Mirka Eliášová, Jiří Jakl
Dancers/performers: Lucie Charouzová, Romana Packová, Mish Rais, students and graduates of the Klapkova Art School, Hanka Malaníková, Petr Mančál, Veronika Zapletalová, Václav Kalivoda, Jana Novorytová
Support: Prague City Hall, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the district of Prague 6, State Fund of Culture, Eli a kol., Hradní potok Association z.s., Nadace Život umělce, Čtyři dny z.s., mamapapa, z.s.
