Landscape Festival brings art and happenings to Žižkov’s public spaces

The eighth annual Landscape Festival in Prague’s Žižkov district brings together about 40 different works of art, installations and interventions in public space by Czech and foreign architects and artists.

The festival’s aim is not only to diversify the urban environment during the summer months, but also to highlight the potential of Žižkov and to show the possibilities of improving the quality of life in cities, including adaptation measures to climate change.

Residents and visitors of Žižkov can build their own park thanks to an interactive installation on Žerotínova Street by Amsterdam’s NL Architects called Puzzle Park, inspired by the legendary puzzle Patnáctka.

They can taste purified rainwater at Havlíčkův náměstí thanks nanofiltration by Richard Loskot or refresh themselves on the new water elements by students of the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) on the corner of Jeseniova and Prokopova streets and on náměstí Radost.

The atmosphere of Kostnické náměstí in 1914 will be recalled by the installation of architect David Vávra, which plays with colors. A giant painting by Patrik Hábl called Waterfall on a panel house in Kubelíkova Street will draw attention to the unstoppable flow of time, transience and the natural element.

Near the cycle path leading to the former Vítkov Railway line and the Hrabovská spojka, new interactive furniture is now available. An alternative path by French artist Benedetto Bufalino leads over the roofs of parked cars directly in front of the Žižkov Town Hall at Havlíčkovo náměstí.

Until the end of September, the festival will offer a program of lectures, discussions, workshops, happenings and exhibitions. The festival is organized by the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery with the support of the Prague 3 district.

Landscape Festival began in 2014 and 2015 in Prague 3. Its first two years took place in the area of Nákladové nádraží Žižkov and in 2018 it returned with activities on Vítkov and its surroundings. “The festival aims to guide visitors through the green infrastructure of Žižkov in order to draw attention to the exceptional number of parks and other types of urban greenery and underline their landscape, nature and recreational potential,” Dan Merta, director of the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery, said.

“Cultivation of public space is an important topic for us, which is why I am glad that the Landscape Festival is taking place again in Prague 3 this year. For a few months, our space will be enlivened by art and interesting ideas for its use. Personally, I’m most looking forward to the installation Water for You by Richard Loskot or Patrik Hábl’s Waterfall, ” Prague 3 Councilor Pavel Křeček, responsible for culture and strategic planning, said.