Galerie Langhans ends today after eight years

Prague - The Prague photographic gallery Langhans is leaving the Prague art scene after eight years. It is presenting its final exhibition of fashion photographs, Now & Wow, which ends today along with the entire gallery. Its owner, Zuzana Meisnerová, the great-granddaughter of the famous photographer Jan Langhans, made this decision for personal reasons.
      Meisnerová previously stated that in the coming years she intends to focus primarily on working with her great-grandfather's archive. "Activities to preserve and promote the Langhans Archive continue with the usual intensity," she told ČTK at the time. However, according to her, the generous gallery spaces should remain preserved. In this context, she also hopes that they will continue to serve cultural purposes.
      The owner had been responsible for the gallery's dramaturgy from the beginning. This year, Swiss Walter Keller took over this role. Keller himself was surprised by the gallery owner's decision but respects it. According to him, the international photographic scene in Eastern Europe, however, "loses one of the few non-commercial places dedicated to exhibiting contemporary artistic photography" with the closure of the Langhans gallery. "I will personally return to my own projects," Keller stated in a statement to ČTK.
      The gallery began its operations in May 2003 in the reconstructed Langhans Palace on Vodičkova Street. Zuzana Meisnerová, daughter of Viktor Meisner, the last owner of the Ateliér Langhans company, aimed to restore the purpose of the palace that it had during the era of its founder, Jan Langhans.
      Exhibitions were held in a total of five rooms, across three above-ground floors and even in the basement. The total exhibition area reached 180 square meters. After the reconstruction (according to the design of architect Ladislav Lábus), the House of Langhans received the prestigious Grand Prix of the Architects Association (2003) and also the title of Building of the Year 2003.
      In the unique spaces in the center of Prague, a number of domestic and international artists, photographers, or photographic projects have passed through during the gallery's existence. The gallery has temporarily hosted various artists such as the American artist Martha Roslerová, photographer Bill Jacobson, Danish author Jacob Holdt, or Brno native Pavel Dias.