Mikulov

The artistic design festival Křehký Mikulov traditionally celebrated their ninth anniversary at the chateau in Mikulov from the 24th May to the 9th June 2019.

Thus, archeology in the sense of exploring traditions imprinted in contemporary design and art. Survey of our relationship to objects, to the beauty of the Mikulov region and to design as a tool that can turn everyday reality into a fete. We introduced the Czechia project as the first archeological tasting ground, which also examines the Mikulov landscape and its customs. Eight months before Křehký Mikulov the creators buried treasure in the ground. Something that is intrinsically linked to the Mikulov chateau. What was the destiny of the object uncovered in the excavation? The photographer Michaela Karásek Čejková, along with fashion designer Kateřina Plamitzerová and landscape architect Lucie Králíková mapped, researched and remodelled the whole excavation into an exhibition that premièred within the Křehký Mikulov festival.

The central exhibition was called for the second time the Research of Substance. We focused on porcelain, which is an essential for the Křehký gallery brand. Most often it addresses designers with the creation of new pieces particularly from this material and for the long term is trying to show the delicate beauty and charm that porcelain carries in itself. The renowned Dutch designer Ineke Hans presented a new piece simply called “Jug”. Fine porcelain, floral decor in contrast with a rustic shape that does not deny the roots of the author from the renowned Gouda area. Maxim Velčovský created a special edition called “Katastrofické vázy” (“Catastrophic Vases”) on the occasion of the festival. A catastrophe hit the ground, but one vase survived. And on it he imprinted what can be found in a post-catastrophic landscape.

We also addressed the Slovak designer Zuzana Svátik, who worked through porcelain addressing three subjects political, sociable and gender issues. Simona Janišová, also from Slovakia, works with porcelain and with state-of-the-art forming techniques, but she was happy to return to traditional works with a circular wheel and spatula. Edina Andrasi from Hungary approached her vases as statues. Roman Šedina invited other colleagues from various fields to cooperate in order to enrich his vases with other elements - including jewellery designer Markéta Kratochvílová, fashion designer Milim and illustrator Michal Bačák.

We also prepared an innovation a project called “Manufaktury” (“Manufactures”), where both young and mature visitors can participate in workshops with renowned designers, such as Michal Strach, Bro., Michal Bačák and Diego Faivre.