Architecture of Independence in Central Europe – exhibition offer

This display boards exhibition prepared by the ICC is a concise version of an extensive show presented in the spaces of the International Cultural Centre Gallery at the turn of 2018 and 2019.

The end of World War I in 1918 radically changed the geopolitical shape of Central Europe. It brought freedom to many nations, while for others it meant profound changes in the current framework of political and economic life. The war damage, the shifting of borders and the clash with the new political realities left their mark on the development of culture and the shape of the architecture of this part of the continent in the decades to come.

The central idea of the exhibition was to show the very dynamic period after 1918 in the full spectrum of changes that took place at that time, and were reflected in the space, urban planning and architecture of new countries that appeared on the map of Central Europe. A new order was dynamically emerging – political, social, and cultural.
In this context, the titular architecture of independence is understood more broadly than individual buildings. It works as a marker of identity in the landscape of regions and cities, a search for new models of national iconography, an expression of the will to create opportunities for social development, but also the emergence of the idea of a new man.

Political changes meant that once bustling metropolises lost their importance and provincial cities became capitals of countries or regions overnight. Young states required an appropriate, decorous setting. The monumental nature of the buildings and the grandeur of public spaces served to strengthen the new government and build a national identity. It was a moment of triumph for Modernism, whose early phase crystallised as a response to problems of the most destitute citizens, offering cheap housing, to develop a new, luxurious aspect over time.

The end of the Great War is also the time of the birth of the idea of a new man. A man of the future was supposed to be healthy and fit, and his body was to resemble a machine. Health and hygiene, sport and active recreation were factors of social and moral changes and important elements of consolidating new societies. The changes that were taking place were aptly illustrated by the evolution of the health resort and the development of sports infrastructure. Sports halls, racetracks, swimming pools, stadiums that could accommodate thousands of spectators became a visible sign of modernisation and a great propaganda tool for newly established countries.

The exhibition is aimed at art audiences of all ages, both lovers and researchers of the history of architecture and applied arts, as well as those interested in cultural and social changes in the early 20th century.

Exhibition offer HERE