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BROUGHT TO LIGHT MAJOR MUSEUM OPENS IN OLOMOUC, CZECH REPUBLIC
by:
Jana Vytrhlik
Prague we know about. Ask anyone about the city of golden towers in the heart of Europe. But Olomouc? Those who have heard of and can vaguely pronounce Olomouc, probably link it with that infamous fusty cheese from Moravia. The Czech Republic is made up of Bohemia, Moravia and tiny Silesia. Moravia has an area of just 26,000 square kilometres. Over the last decade, however, Moravia has been undergoing remarkable academic and cultural development. Still waiting to be discovered by the world, the city at the forefront of the change, Olomouc, has been gently vying in popularity with Prague as a tourist attraction. Moravia was a major medieval kingdom until the eleventh century when it was incorporated into the kingdom of Bohemia. An important metropolitan church at Olomouc has been the residence of the Moravian Catholic bishop since 1063 (archdiocese from 1777) to the present day. The city still retains its baroque appearance, a legacy of the Jesuit presence since the mid sixteenth century. In the twentieth century, the Nazi occupation interrupted life in many ways, the Church suffering persecution and liturgical restrictions. The short post-war era of freedom was soon replaced by half a century of totalitarian Communist regime which systematically persecuted representatives of the Church. The freedom necessary for any spiritual and cultural development was restored only after 1989. In 1995, the entire state-owned medieval Olomouc castle complex with adjacent former archbishops residence was declared a national treasure and subsequently returned to the Church. In June 2006, the new Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc was opened on the site. The director, Professor Pavel Zatloukal, explained how the museum has an important mission to refurbish and safeguard the significant historical site and complex of buildings and to preserve and present the best of extant Moravian sacred art and culture. In addition the museum aims to lead the way in reconnecting Moravia with European history. Under the Communists, the continuity between the past and present was disrupted. Links and connections between the nation and European culture were interrupted, history rewritten and memory erased. The new Archdiocesan Museum endeavours to explore Moravia's European cultural roots. The idea of establishing an archdiocesan museum in Olomouc evolved gradually over many years. The decisive moment came in 1995, when Pope John Paul II visited Olomouc and was enthusiastic about preserving the centuries-old ecclesiastical legacy. What followed was a new and unprecedented partnership between the Czech state (through the Ministry for Culture) and the Church. The winning team of architects was selected in 1998 and reconstruction of this historical site begun in 2000. The Archdiocesan Museum opened six years later. The government financed not only the restoration and building construction works, but it also guaranteed to fund the running of the new museum. The refurbishment cost was enormous, 270 million Czech crowns (AUD$16,000,000) and the annual running of the museum is estimated at 48.6 million CZK (AUD$ 2,900,000). The Church lent free of charge all the historic buildings (owned by the Church) and numerous sacred objects which were scattered in various cathedrals, churches and regional locations. Neither the museum premises nor the majority of exhibits come from either the state or private collections. After the famous Jewish Museum in Prague, the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc is the next most significant museum in the Czech Republic recording spiritual history and displaying ritual objects. The Archdiocesan Museum's dedicated galleries, such as the textile cabinet and the treasury, introduce selections of unique liturgical textiles and precious metal objects ranging from the Gothic to the Baroque. The museum also houses one of the best collections of Old Master paintings in Central Europe together with significant examples of Romanesque and Gothic art. Works by Renaissance and Baroque artists such as Bernardo Cavallino, Onorio Marinari, Pietro della Vecchio, Sebastiano del Piombo, Francesco Bassano and Paolo Veronese are featured in the exhibition. Monumental Baroque sculpture is strongly represented next to various works in ivory, and liturgical objects made from precious metals and stones. From Moravia and the other European workshops comes a unique collection of coins and rare early textiles. Special attention has been given to Olomouc church music and the contribution of bishops and archbishops to the development of music in the region. The refurbished complex of the Archdiocesan Museum is situated in an historically important locality. It was challenging to maintain the original structure of the multi-layered complex and to blend with a thoroughly modern museum, which demanded exhibition facilities, access and visitor services. The three young architects from Prague, Petr Hajek, Tomas Hradecny and Jan Sepka succeeded in respecting the historic building, the earliest part of which is tenth-century Romanesque, while adding diverse contemporary layers to fit new galleries and facilities. The result is stunning: the old does not have to compete with the new. Medieval Madonnas, crucifixes or Baroque saints - originally created to adorn ancient churches and cathedral's - seamlessly blend with sympathetic new design and materials. Concrete, glass and steel accentuate objects of strong spiritual substance and expression. Among the many thematic museums which are being opened across Europe every year, the new Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc must hold a special place.
It has all the attributes to become a sought-after destination for cultural tourists. It houses a rich and significant collection of art, it emphasises the interpretative aspects of the display, features superb exhibition design, and offers excellent visitor programs and activities. Facilities include a pleasant coffee area, music and lecture hall, library and space for activities for schools and families with young children. The museum's long term plans ensure regular changeovers in all galleries and an interesting program of temporary exhibitions. Whether you are interested in Gothic sacred art, or medieval decorative and applied arts, Baroque sculpture, Renaissance painting or Romanesque architecture, Olomouc, which is just four hours drive from Prague, is definitely worth the excursion.
NOTES
G. Elbelova & P. Zatloukal, Archdiocesan Museum Guide, Olomouc, 2006. Photos Marketa Ondruskova, Archive Museum of Art, Olomouc
Archdiocesan Museum Olomouc Vaclavske namesti 3, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
tel: +420 585 514 111 fax: +420 585 514 166 e-mail: info@olmuart.cz web: www.olmuart.cz
Open daily except Monday 10 am - 6 pm.
Free every Wednesday and Sunday
Labels and the catalogue are in English as well as Czech. |
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