Toyen and Franta: Two must-see art exhibits set to shake up Prague's art scene

Two upcoming exhibitions in Prague promise to unravel deep questions about human existence and artistic evolution. One traces a decades-spanning exploration of conflict and resilience, while the other reexamines the boundaries of identity through a surrealist legacy. Set against the backdrop of two prestigious venues, these showcases offer an invitation to engage with art that unsettles, provokes, and resonates across time.

Opening on Feb. 11, a group exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts (Uměleckoprůmyslové Museum) will explore identity through the lens of avant-garde surrealist Toyen, one of Czechia’s most enigmatic artists.

Titled L’identité, the exhibition, organized by Kodl Contemporary, draws inspiration from Toyen’s surrealist vision and gender-fluid identity. The French title refers not only to Toyen’s life in Paris but also to Milan Kundera’s novel of the same name, originally published in French in the 1990s and later translated into Czech as Totožnost (Identity in English).

Toyen (born Maria Čermínová) was a leading figure of the SVU Mánes and Devětsil movements, collaborating with Jindřich Štyrský to develop artificialism, a style that later evolved into a deep connection with surrealism. Consistently rejecting social stereotypes, as reflected in her gender-neutral pseudonym, she relocated to France after World War II, where she remained a key figure in the Parisian surrealist scene until her death.

At the heart of the exhibit are two oil paintings by Toyen—Twighlight in the Forest (Šero v pralese) and All the Elements (Tous les éléments)—which serve as a springboard for broader discussions on identity, gender, and personal expression. Milan Kundera’s novel L’identité provides another layer of reference, reinforcing the exhibition’s theme of self-exploration across time.

Contributors range from conceptual pioneers like Adriena Šimotová and Margita Titlová Ylovsky, whose works probe human fragility and bodily experience, to younger artists such as Veronika Šrek Bromová and Lenka Klodová, who tackle themes of femininity, technology, and myth. Further pushing boundaries are artists like Pavla Sceranková and the duo unconductive trash (Michal Pěchouček and Rudi Koval), whose textile-based works introduce alternative methods of storytelling.

The exhibition, which runs until April 10, raises intriguing questions. While Toyen rejected fixed societal roles, Kundera’s work has often been scrutinized for its portrayal of gender and relationships. Does this juxtaposition deepen the exhibition’s exploration of identity, or does it introduce an unresolved contradiction?

Franta, born František Mertl, remains one of the most compelling figurative painters of the modern era. Now, thirty years after his first Prague retrospective, his extensive body of work returns to the Czech capital with a major exhibition at Prague Castle’s Riding Hall (Jízdárna Pražského hradu).

Born in 1930 in Třebíč, Metrl left Czechoslovakia in 1958, to build a career in France, where he adopted his artistic moniker and gained international recognition. His first major connection back to Prague came in the late 1960s when the National Gallery acquired one of his works. However, despite a strong European presence, Franta’s work remains relatively underappreciated by the broader Czech public.

The show spans seven decades and presents his powerful depictions of the human condition, featuring large-scale ink drawings and bronze sculptures alongside his expressive paintings. The exhibition’s thematic core revolves around Franta’s enduring condemnation of violence and war, reflecting his deep sensitivity to the beauty and horror of human existence.

Curated by the National Gallery Prague and running from Feb. 14 to June 15, the exhibition showcases pieces from private and institutional collections, including those of the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris and the Moravian Gallery in Brno. In a time of global turmoil, Franta’s work serves as both a historical testament and a call for solidarity.

The exhibition in the Prague Castle Riding Hall will be open to visitors for free on Sunday, March 16, 2025, to mark the artist’s birthday.