The motto quotes one of the most influential sages, scholars, and teachers, Rabbi Hillel the Elder (1st century CE in Babylonia). It provokes thoughts about our limited existence and decisions. As a historian, I have always been fascinated by depictions of history in pictures, regardless of the media used. For the last 120 years of film creation (Roundhay Garden Scene) and 200 years after the first attempts in photography, it has become easier now than ever before. The concept of this exhibition was developed from research on the connections between movement through spaces and places – between the past and present. The nearly monochrome colors reflect the atmosphere of an unrenovated synagogue from the mid-19th century, expressing humanity’s volatile existence and limited time in space. My thanks to Mr. Václav Špále to make this beautiful space available.
Raw cut from the exhibition: If Not Now, When? Synagogue Lieben – Prague 2018. day1
Raw cut from the exhibition: If Not Now, When? Synagogue Lieben 2018, Space experience at NIGHT – excerpt from the evening programme. Sound Wilhelm Grasha.Labyrint, acrylic on raw canvas, 200×200 cm. 2018.Massada, acrylic on raw canvas, 200×200 cm, 2018.Olive Tree, acrylic on raw canvas, 200×200, 2018.D’s World, acrylic on raw canvas, 200x200cm, 2018.
To the story and history …
Altney Synagogue – back view with no more existing water well, Prague, acrylic on raw Cavas 60×60 cm, 2018.
Altney Synagogue in Prague, Judenstadt. 2018
Altneu Synagogue, built originally in 1270 in Gothic style, is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, and used till today. The old “ghetto” in the Old Town of Prague was demonlished, and the district rebuilt in art nouveau at the beginning of the 20th century.
Pinkas Synagogue in Prague is the second oldest existing synagogue in Prague. The sources say the mikveh (ritual bath) goes back to the 16th century.
Left – the sketch, right – the finished painting on raw canvas. More information: Pinkas Synagogue.
Synagogue at Weinneberge, Prague, acrylic on canvas 60×60 cm, 2018.
A postcard of the Synagogue at Weinberge (Israelitische Temple) in Prague from 1901. The synagogue was built in 1896 but was partially destroyed during the bombardment of Prague in WWII in 1945. nfortunately, it was completely demolished in 1951.
Zigeiner Synagogue in Prague was demolished 1910.
It was founded aprox. 1613 by Salomon Zalkid Zigeiner in 1613, near the river Moldau/Vltava. The bar mizvah of Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was held there in 1896 – as he mentions in one of his letter to his Czech lover Milena Jesenská in 1921.
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