The church was originally built in 44, at which time it was one of the tallest buildings in the country. Book sculpture smithsonian photo contest smithsonian magazine. That statue, which was installed in 1924 after decades of work, is a symbol of the city. Prague czech republic, sculpture made with books at the mestska knihovna city library in marianske namesti dg0amm from. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well.
Inside lucerna pasaz on vodickova street, another public sculpture by cerny can be found. If you have not been there yet, you should consider visiting this place. One of the most beautiful library is in prague, czech republic. Located inside the entrance of the library in the old town of prague, this is a really cool idea. Its an impressive building externally and inside has a quirky piece of art in the entrance area formed from a tower of books. With aweinspiring paintings and books that are full of traditional czech literature, this gorgeous building, the klementinum library, is home to many bookloving tourists. The prague city library mestska knihovna in czech network is userfriendly and surely has a lot to offer with an extensive list of titles to borrow from prose to poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and much more. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures. The book tunnel of prague the sculpture that brings a whole new meaning to lost in a good book for world book day, we thought wed share this marvellous book sculpture, known variously as a book tunnel, book wormhole, and book vortex, but officially titled idiom and created by slovakianborn sculptor and artist.
On the other hand, book sculptures use multiple book in a way that the art is first experienced as a whole before the viewer focuses upon what it is made out of. Check out the best museums in prague to visit in 2020. Stack of books sculpture, prague library dave henri flickr. Its a pretty memorable sculpture and certainly has viewers smiling and taking note of the sculpture simply known as piss. It looks like a narrow tower that rises to the ceiling. The czechslovak artist matej kren has created a number of such structures, a couple of which i have photos for. The sculpture consists of two bronze men who robotically. Inside the book tower at prague main library in 2020. Book sculpture in prague national library inside the. Matej krens idiom is a spellbinding tower made from. For locals, the library is a cultural center with book clubs, author talks, concerts, films, and storytelling classes.
Book sculpture smithsonian photo contest smithsonian. Weve heard the phrase getting lost in a good book but never have we seen a sculpture that actually makes you feel it. And finally, in 1998, his wonderful sculpture was placed in the prague municipal library, consisted of books, it perfectly fits into this place, and by using mirrors. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. Oct 09, 2019 the municipal library of prague mestska knihovna v praze is close to the city center, and its a diverting place to escape the crush of old town and relax in the serenity of bookland.
The national library of the czech republic is closed from 11 march until further notice as a precautionary measure related to spreading coronavirus disease covid19. Immerse yourself into worldclass art, exciting history, and mindbending science. Municipal library of prague 2020 all you need to know. Design inspiration and journal i like art, pomegranates, and optimism. It was voted as one of the most beautiful and majestic libraries in the world by our readers. This crazy miracle in a library in prague was designed by slovakian artist matej kren. Municipal library of prague all you need to know before. Old and heavy books always seem like a mysterious and infinite well of wisdom and imagination for me. Strahovsky klaster is a premonstratensian abbey founded in 1143 by jindrich zdik, bishop john of prague, and vladislaus ii, duke of bohemia. The sculpture that brings a whole new meaning to lost in a good book for world book day, we thought wed share this marvellous book sculpture, known variously as a book tunnel, book wormhole, and book vortex, but officially titled idiom and created by slovakianborn sculptor and artist matej kren.
In this post, we collected 20 book sculptures for your inspiration. Municipal library of prague 2020 all you need to know before. If you ever get a chance to visit prague, make sure you drop by the prague municipal library to see an extraordinary sculpture by matej kren. The klementinum library, an exquisite example of baroque architecture, was first opened in 1722 as part of the jesuit university, and houses over 20,000 books.
In the bottom, there is a mirror, creating the effect of a deep, deep well of wisdom. Book sculpture in 2020 book sculpture, i love books, book art. Alicia martins amazing book sculptures pour out of windows and into the streets. Alicia martins amazing book sculptures pour out of.
A sight that is hidden for most tourists, but very, very impressive. Its also sometimes referred to as the tower of books and was installed in prague municipal library in 1998. Quotes literature book arch book installation art installations instalation art book sculpture old books library books book nooks. There is an abundance of strange statues in prague that are controversial, quirky, provocative and just outright odd. Dec 26, 2011 weve heard the phrase getting lost in a good book but never have we seen a sculpture that actually makes you feel it. The two bronze men sculptures are writing out famous quotations from czech literature with their neverending pee onto a basin in the shape of the czech country. Located in a busy shopping center in prague, this twisting and reflective sculpture depicting the head of writer franz kafka is the latest kinetic artwork by controversial czech artist david cerny. The hall of the main library in prague is dominated by a giant tower of books a monument made out of old novels from the library.
Post the most beautiful examples of book sculptures. This art piece depicts psychoanalyst sigmund freud hanging by one hand on the top of a building. Surreal art and statues in prague czech republic wanders. Until recently the complex hosted the national, university and technical libraries. The picture shows a book sculpture of twelve metres height at the bebelplatz in berlin, germany, friday 21 april 2006. With aweinspiring paintings and books that are full of traditional czech literature, this gorgeous building, the klementinum library, is home to many book loving tourists. In 2009, the technical library and the municipal library moved to the prague national technical library at technicka 6. Municipal library of prague comprised of 42 branches and two mobile libraries, the municipal library of prague, or mlp, serves prague inhabitants reading needs and more.
In this episode we visit the municipal library of prague to see the amazing book tower sculpture. And finally, in 1998, his wonderful sculpture was placed in the prague municipal library, consisted of books, it perfectly fits into this place, and by using mirrors, he created an unusual effect of infinity but it is hard to be described should be seen. The most impressive buildings in prague culture trip. Matej krens idiom is a spellbinding tower made from hundreds of. Maybe the choice was similar to the movie fargo, where brainerd just didnt sound right. Marianske square is located in the city centre, very close to the old town square and staromestska metro station, so you could visit. Saw a picture of the book tower in the hotel we were staying at. The prague municipal library at marianske square, prague, czech republic is definitely worth visiting because of an amazing sculpture made of numerous books by matej kren, a young czechoslovak artist. Book igloo book furniture, book sculpture, stack of books. The largest church in the country and one of the most impressive examples of gothic architecture, saint vitus cathedral is located in the grounds of prague castle. The third seems to grow upwards from a public square. For world book day, we thought wed share this marvellous book sculpture, known variously as a book tunnel, book wormhole, and book vortex, but officially titled idiom and created by slovakianborn sculptor and artist matej kren.
Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. The worlds most beautiful library is in prague, czech republic. Cerny decided to make a parody of the famous sculpture of st. This wonderful sculpture is placed in the prague municipal library, consisting of books and mirrors, creating an unusual effect of infinity. Alicia martins amazing book sculptures pour out of windows. Book this guided tour, and check a major mustsee off your todo list. Located in the center of old town on marianske square is the headquarters of the prague city library. I live in london and id heard about the project amazeme which was an installation at the royal festival hall. I think generally people come here for photo with that book sculpture but this library is not just about that book sculpture. Oct 22, 2014 there is an abundance of strange statues in prague that are controversial, quirky, provocative and just outright odd.
Learn about the ancient history of the area through your guides indepth commentary as you explore. Have you ever been to the prague municipal library at marianske square. Matej kren the author of the sculpture in the municipal. Curious and compelling statues in the czech republic atlas. The prague municipal library is now home to slovakian born artist matej krens epic repurposed book tower. I usually try to read novels about places we have seen or will soon travel to, and im always looking for ways to write better descriptions of places in my own novels please see my new new york city based legal thriller, a good conviction, and my historical novel the heretic library of american fiction set in 15th century spain. Jun 10, 2003 i was also wondering why in the heck the book was called prague when the novel is set in budapest. I think you have to visit the library to see the books tower while you are in prague. Book sculpture in prague national library inside the main. Inside the book tower at prague main library in 2020 prague.
The lobby entrance features a book sculpture called idiom. The clementinum klementinum in czech is a historic complex of buildings in prague. Entrance is free so well worth popping in for a short time. Paperback book which has been soaked in water then dried and sculpted into a fine art piece. However, book is so much more than pages full of words.
Wenceslas by josef vaclav myslbek that can be seen on the square. Apr 16, 2020 positive and negative space the negative space in this sculpture insinuates a person, perhaps one that has been been both physically and mentally been shaped by the surrounding books a different kind of display. For example, the prague municipal library has a famous art installation made out of books, light, and mirrors. Theres a mirror inside so the tunnel of books looks endless when you lean into it. The worlds most beautiful library is in prague, czech. Theres a mirror inside so the tunnel of books looks endless when you. Learn about the ancient history of the area through your guides indepth commentary as you explore mala strana, the golden lane, and views of st. The idiom installation at the prague municipal library. Installed in 2014, the enormous mirrored bust is comprised of 42 independently driven layers of stainless steel and weighs in at some 45 tons. Central library of charles university central library of. Get to know prague castle and the castle district on foot during this halfday walking tour. Its also sometimes referred to as the tower of books and was installed in prague.
Its either hte national library or the main library of the university there. In 1781, director karel rafael ungar established biblioteca nationalis, a collection of czech language literature. Apr 19, 2020 looking to get inspired on your trip to prague. It is the home of 20 000 books, too, which is why it attracts so many book lovers from around the world.
Book sculpture, humboldt university, berlin, germany. A work of art that is created by books, inside there are two mirrors that give the illusion that it goes on forever. We visited this library as part of our threehour walking tour around the city of prague. Due to extreme overload of adobe connect of charles university, we are forced to limit the number of concurrent online conferences by introducing a reservation system where you. The ceiling frescoes of this library in prague were painted by jan hiebl.
Look up for the man hanging out dont call pragues fire and police like some, man hanging out is a quirky sculpture in the stare meso area of the city. Another approach to booksculptures is to consider the book a brick to be used to build structures. He used books and mirrors, creating an unusual effect of infinity. Books installation in the municipal library of prague by matej kren. Book sculpture prague i love books, art, and prague. Jul, 2014 another approach to book sculptures is to consider the book a brick to be used to build structures. Book sculpture in 2020 book sculpture, i love books. Called idiom, the spiraling tower of czech books are stacked to reach the ceiling. Prague czech republic, sculpture made with books at the mestska. Book sculpture is a form of sculpturing art made with books. Curious and compelling statues in the czech republic. I was also very happy to see that the prague library system includes 10 copies of well fed in czech, aka. Oct 25, 2012 a work of art that is created by books, inside there are two mirrors that give the illusion that it goes on forever.
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