Far from being disconnected from its surroundings, the building – which was renovated with elegance and sobriety in a definitely contemporary style – opens on the whole district and the river with its broad glass walls, the terraces inhabited by contemporary statues and a big glass tower around which the exhibition halls are structured. This welcoming site is ideal to discover today’s artistic creations.
As is the case with many foundations, the Museum Kampa is the result of a wonderful saga of artistic dedication and passion. It is the story of Meda Mládek, an art historian, protector of Czechoslovak artists during the communist era and passionate lover of contemporary art, who, with her husband Jan, managed to put together a superb collection, while living in the United States. This collection can be newly seen in Prague, following the couple’s wish to bring to light the rich Czech culture of the 20th century to the greatest number of people.
The two most prestigious sections of the collection are those of František Kupka, Czech avant-garde painter and pioneer in the field of abstraction, and his contemporary Otto Gutfreund, one of the most important Czech sculptors of the 20th century, renowned foremost for his Cubist period. Both artists’ works are judiciously set next to each other in a highly inspiring formal dialogue.
The permanent exhibition also gives the opportunity to discover Central European art, particularly from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the works of as diverse personalities as René Koubiček, Václav Cígler, Aleš Veselý or Eva Kmentová.
Following this militant and passionate will to keep today’s creation alive and to make it known, the Museum Kampa also holds numerous temporary exhibitions, linked to the new tendencies of Central Europe’s contemporary artistic arena.
Museum Kampa, foundation Jan and Meda Mládek
U Sovových mlýnu – Sova watermill
Prague 1 - Malá Strana.
www.museumkampa.cz
How to get there:
Tram 12, 20, 22 – stop “Hellichova”
Opening hours: every day from 10am to 6pm.
Adults: 150 kč / 4 EUR
Family: 180 Kč / 6,5 EUR (2 adults + max. 3 children under 15)
Students: 75 kč / 3 EUR (students, children from 6 to 15 years old, adultes more than 60, free for children younger than 6).
