The gallery in the glass new building by Čechův Bridge opened the exhibition Point 0

Prague – The new KodlContemporary gallery in the glass building at Prague's Curieových Square opened its first exhibition today, titled Point 0. More than 30 artists are participating. The gallery has long-term rented the two-story building from the owners of the former InterContinental Hotel, now Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel. It aims to present the work of contemporary Czech and European artists and introduce them into an international context, said gallery founder Jakub Kodl during the opening today.

The KodlContemporary features works by 36 visual artists. Among them are domestic creators Josef Bolf, Pasta Oner, Ivan Pinkava, Jan and Theodor Pištěk, Rony Plesl, Michael Rittstein, and Jaroslav Róna, as well as French sculptor Louise Frydman and Hungarian painter Attila Szűcs.

"Our ambition is to be a gallery that connects local artists with the international scene, and at the same time be a gateway that brings world art to Prague," Kodl stated. The gallery aims to connect artistic creation, collecting, and cultural dialogue, which is suited to the location of the new building. Kodl added that he wants to collaborate with international institutions and raise awareness of the Czech scene abroad.

The artists have previously collaborated with the Kodl family gallery. Many attended today’s opening. "I am of course glad that a new space for contemporary art is emerging," painter Bolf told ČTK. The gallery's construction does not disturb him.

The exhibition presents a retrospective summary of the gallery's activities so far and aims to open a new chapter. It will last until October 28, and in November, there will be an exhibition by glass artist Martin Janecký at KodlContemporary.

The new building, with two above-ground floors on the waterfront and a below-ground floor that connects it to the waterfront's retaining wall tunnel, is not large. Due to its location, it previously faced criticism. It stands in the sightlines from Čechův Bridge and Dvořákovo Waterfront to iconic buildings. However, critics would tolerate it as a certain price for not erecting another structure on Miloš Forman Square on the other side of the hotel.

The solution for the entire square is now the subject of an architectural competition. The public will have the opportunity to see six final proposals from nearly 200 entries on Thursday, September 11. The competition's assignment was criticized by the Arnika association at the time of its announcement, claiming that competing architects could place commercial areas on Forman Square.

The hotel with its piazzetta, today’s square, was purchased in January 2019 by billionaire investors Oldřich Šlemr, Pavel Baudiš, and Eduard Kučera through the investment company R2G. According to their previous statements, the amount for the purchase and reconstruction approaches ten billion crowns.

In April this year, the hotel reopened as the five-star Fairmont Golden Prague. The reconstruction led by TaK Architects office received a nomination in this year's Building of the Year competition.

Recently, several galleries have been established in Prague, such as Art Palace Prague in the historic building of the former Živnostenská Bank, built at the end of the 19th century, Mucha Museum in the reconstructed part of the Savarin Palace, and a new section of Pragovka Gallery in Prague 9.