Tucked away down the unassuming Holečkova road, just a short walk from the River Vltava that meanders gently through Prague, lies Futura Gallery. Its very normal location is entirely at odds with what lies within, namely the most intriguing and engaging art gallery we have ever visited. You’ll be forgiven for walking past it a couple of times without really noticing it, but keep an eye out for a flag indicating its location on a row of houses and offices. Ring the Futura Gallery bell and a door will open for you, taking you inside.
It is entirely free to enter, although it’s a good idea to leave a donation, and photography of the works is highly encouraged with the request that you use their hashtags #futuraprague and #futuraproject if publishing them online. The biggest draw for tourists to this gallery is David Černý’s famous Brownnosing, created in 2003 in celebration of the gallery’s opening. These are two large and climbable statues, leading up to an anus with a television inside, showing a Czech politician and artist feeding each other while Queen plays.
The gallery features regular exhibitions, many of which (after browsing their site) seem to be very interesting indeed, making full use of the three storeys of the exhibition space. When we went, we were lucky enough to see the American video artist Andrew Normal Wilson’s exhibition, which transformed the space into an atmospheric Americana, as if you were stuck in a loop in a nightmarish childhood with hidden installations adding to the bizarre feel of the place. Even if you’re just visiting for Brownnosing, keep an open mind and take the time to enjoy their exhibits.
Comments