Databáze uměleckých výstav v českých zemích 1820 – 1950

The Slovakia Exhibition, which had been prepared and postponed for a long time, finally took place in Prague in March and April 1933 on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the Czechoslovak Republic. Its purpose was to present Slovak art in Prague and, as the exhibition catalogue put it, “to deepen mutual understanding between both national branches, to strengthen mutual trust and to increase mutual respect” [Pečírka 1933, p. 4]. It was also intended “to dispel romantic prejudices and to arouse the objective and unsentimental interest of the inhabitants of the Czech lands through concrete, albeit simplified, facts.” [Catalogue 1933, n. p.]. This met with some objections from the Czech side, which claimed that after fourteen years of coexistence within one state, it was disloyal to say that the Czech cultural public imagined Slovakia only as “the homeland of folk songs, embroidery, and the Tatras, tinkers and bandits” [Marek 1933, p. 1].

The exhibition took place in two locations. The Myslbek Pavilion housed paintings and sculptures created in the last five years, while architecture, applied arts, folk art, works by students at the School of Applied Arts in Bratislava, and tourism promotion were exhibited in the Municipal House.

This was the first official exhibition of Slovak art in Prague since the establishment of Czechoslovakia, representing not only all art forms but also all nationalities. It was financially supported by the Slovak Republic, the Czechoslovak Ministry of Education and National Enlightenment, and the City of Bratislava (80,000 – 100,000 CZK). Until then, only two exhibitions of art from the Slovak part of the republic had been held in Prague. The first, organized in 1922, was the exhibition of the Jednota výtvarných umelcov Slovenska (Union of Slovak Artists), an organization that brought together mainly Hungarian and German artists from Slovakia, for which the show was harshly criticized by the Czechs as being “un-Slovak.” The second show took place in Prague’s Mánes in 1931 and was organized by Spolok slovenských umelcov (Association of Slovak Artists), one of the largest art associations in Slovakia.

The Slovakia Exhibition was a joint venture of Združenie slovenských umelcov (Association of Slovak Artists), Spolok slovenských umelcov (Association of Slovak Artists), Umelecká beseda slovenská (Slovak Artistic Forum), Bratislavský umelecký spolok Kunstverein (Bratislava Kunstverein), Pracovné združenie architektov pre Slovensko (Professional Association of Architects in Slovakia), Zväz československého diela (Czechoslovak Arts and Crafts Association), Škola umeleckých remesiel (School of Applied Arts), and Cudzinecký zväz (International Tourism Union). Artists of all generations exhibited together, including key figures of the Slovak art scene such as Martin Benka, Janko Alexy, Miloš Alexander Bazovský, Ľudovít Fulla, Mikuláš Galanda, Edmund Gwerk, and František Reichentál. Of the younger generation, the critics praised the painter Cyprián Majerník, while also highlighting the works of the sculptor Ladislav Majerský and the printmaker Koloman Sokol, who had already achieved international success. The industrial design section featured products of Slovak companies such as the Slovak Ceramics in Modra, the Sandrik metal and silverware factory, the Josef Schreiber and Sons glassworks, the Slovenka knitted and woven products, and the Matador rubber goods company.

Reviews in Czech periodicals were, with a few exceptions, relatively positive, although most contained condescending references to the “youthfulness” of Slovak culture. Jaromír Pečírka mentioned voices calling for a more comprehensive Slovak exhibition that would include Slovak history. This idea was realized in 1937 when Prague hosted the Old Masters of Slovakia exhibition. [Pečírka 1933, p. 6] Some reviewers in Slovak periodicals criticized the poor participation of artists from the Association of Slovak Artists (due to insufficient financial support), while others accused the exhibition of not being “Slovak” enough [Marek 1933, p. 2].

The exhibition was held under the auspices of Ivan Dérer, Minister of Education and National Enlightenment, and Milan Hodža, Minister of Agriculture. Government officials and politicians were also present at the opening, adding a political dimension to the event. In his opening speech, Dérer emphasized this political aspect: “It is only natural that Slovak artists come to Prague to exhibit. But the aim of the exhibition is not only to show what has been achieved in the last 15 years; the significance of the exhibition is not only national and artistic but also downright political because it shows how Slovak art, which was suppressed and poisoned under the Hungarian regime, has developed abundantly after achieving freedom. This is the work of the Czechoslovak Republic, the work of the liberation of the Slovak spirit.” [(rok) 1933, p. 6]

Lucia Kvočáková

Works Cited

Marek 1933: Jiří Rudolf Marek, Slovensko v Praze, Elán III, 1933, no. 7, březen (marec), pp. 1–2

Pečírka 1933: Jaromír Pečírka, Výstava Slovenska v Praze, Světozor XXXIII, 1933, no. 12, 23. 3., pp. 4-6

(rok) 1933: (rok), Slovenská výstava v Praze, Venkov XXVIII, 1933, no. 62, 14. 3., p. 6

Katalog 1933: Katalog výstavy Slovenska v Prahe, Praha: Československá grafická unie 1933

Anonymous author, President republiky na Výstavě Slovenska, Národní osvobození 10, no. 67, 19.3.1933, p. 4

Anonymous author, Slovenská výstava bez Slováků, Polední list 7, no. 59, 28.2.1933, p. 2

Anonymous author, V Prahe sa práve koná výstava Slovenska, Gemer – Malohont XV, no. 14, 1.4.1933, p. 1

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska v Praze otevřena, Večer 20, no. 61, 13.3.1933, p. 2

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska v Praze, Polední list 7, no. 72, 13.3.1933, p. 2

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska v Praze, Vitrinka na krásne knihy, vazby a jiné hezké věci 10, no. 2, 31.3.1933, p. 76

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska v Prahe, Slovenský deník XVI, no. 59, 11.3.1933, p. 4 

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska, Hollar, no. 1, 1933, p. 38

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska, Umění. Sborník pro českou výtvarnou práci 6, no. 6–7, duben 1933, pp. 343–344

Anonymous author, Výstava Slovenska, Věstník sokolský 35, no. 14, 6.4. 1933, p. 222

Anonymous author, Výstava slovenského umění v Praze, Legie 8, no. 10, 9.3.1933, p. 5

j. s., Výstava Slovenska v Prahe, Elán III, no. 8, apríl 1933, p. 8

p-, Výstava slovenská v Praze, Rozvoj 40, no. 13, 31.3.1933, p. 5

(rok), Slovenská výstava v Praze, Venkov 28, no. 62, 14.3.1933, p. 6

Úř, Výstava Slovenska v Praze, Lidové noviny 41, no. 122, 8.3.1933, p. 9