The National Gallery has called for participation in the biennale in Venice

Prague - The National Gallery (NG) has called upon artists to participate in a competition for the representation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the 54th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art. The Biennale will take place from June to November 2011, and both republics will be represented by one selected artist. The committee will choose from the applications by the end of September. Both Czechs and Slovaks can apply. The project's theme is not specified. CTK was informed by the spokesperson of the National Gallery, Petra Jungwirthová.
    At the Czechoslovak Pavilion in Venice, the Slovak and Czech national galleries alternate every two years. At the 2009 Biennale, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were represented by Slovak artist Roman Ondák, while in 2007 it was Czech artist Irena Jůzová.
    Last year, Ondák drew attention at the Biennale by creating a replica of the forest park surrounding the pavilion inside it. The interior thus became a continuation of the exterior. The artist tapped into the Biennale's theme, which was "creating worlds".
    Jůzová prepared a spatial installation with a personal touch for the 2007 Biennale - she started from casts and impressions of her body. The author wrapped "the skin she shed" as merchandise that visitors could purchase.
    "Every biennale has its theme, which is often announced too late for a relevant project to be created based on it," said Jungwirthová. "Therefore, it was decided to follow a strategy that other countries also adopt, to subordinate everything to the criterion of quality and to start project implementation even before the theme is announced," she explained the fact that the NG did not restrict artists with a theme. Artists can apply to the National Gallery until September 10.
    The Czechoslovak Pavilion in Venice was established in 1924 according to the design of architect Otakara Novotného. The Czech Republic and Slovakia share the use of the facility and also participate in its financing.