The name of the sculpture is a wonderful play on words in german, and it literally means somebody who handles books. Thanks to a neighbors enormous oak tree, i get less than the ideal. And finally, in 1998, his wonderful sculpture was placed in the prague municipal library, consisted of books, it perfectly fits into this place, and by using mirrors, he created an unusual effect of infinity but it is hard to be described should be seen. The clementinum has been described as the baroque pearl of prague, and this is. A story in photos once upon a time dave and i moved to prague and yesterday, our word nerd dreams came true. Matej kren the author of the sculpture in the municipal library. It is ready for wall hanging or just to place on a shelf. However, book is so much more than pages full of words. The abstract books photographs aim to explore the many degrees of interpretation an object can undergo and still carry the essence of its identity. And while its the books and facilities that make a library, being in lovely. Pragues stunning strahov monastery library and cabinet of.
The clementinum klementinum in czech is a historic complex of buildings in prague. The new national library of the czech republic is situated within a large green site on the letna plateau in prague. Book week scotland 2012 book sculptures with images. In 1781, director karel rafael ungar established biblioteca. Moreover, the terrain articulation serves to effectively guide visitor flows to the main public cores, while enabling universal accessibility of the continuous landscape throughout. So, in january 2006, the prague authorities made a decision. This wonderful sculpture is placed in the prague municipal library, consisting of books and mirrors, creating an unusual effect of infinity. The sculptures are on topics mostly concerning scottish literature and poetry, and are made out of old books by an anonymous female paper sculptor. You will be able to use safe underground parking for additional charge and guests who are using public transport will not have to walk for a. Strahov library prague, czech republic attractions. They harbor the vague suspicion that their counterparts in prague, where the atmospheric decay of postcold war europe. The law library is closed due to the closure of the scott county government center.
Whether youre visiting prague for 24 hours or 1 week, ive put together a guide of the best photography locations in prague to keep you occupied. I think you have to visit the library to see the books tower while you are in. John sartain, chief of the centennial bureau of art, gathered over 3,256 paintings and drawings, 627 works of sculpture, 431 works of applied art, and nearly 3000 groups of photographs, from 20 nations. Libraries and electronic resources charles university. For world book day, we thought wed share this marvellous book sculpture, known variously as a book tunnel, book wormhole, and book vortex, but officially titled idiom and created by slovakianborn sculptor and artist matej kren. Czech national library prague building, future systems. The best photography locations in prague prague photo spots. Internal users charles university students, staff and employees can use the services of individual libraries provided they have valid student or staff cards, which also serve as library reader cards. Im not usually interested in the exploits of spoiled twentysomethings, but the characters become interesting and are well developed.
So great was the response from exhibitors that a separate art annex had to be built, and photographs were displayed in a nearby photographic hall. People watching metal portrate of contemporary artist david cerny with name metalmorphosis museum of glass venetian wall crawling baby sculptures by david cerny, prague, czech. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. The first sculpture to be found, known as the poetree the scottish book sculptures are a group of book sculptures that were contrived to be found in scotland between 2011 and 20. The hall is decorated with frescoes by josef diebel depicting the science and the art. Kelly brenner the strahov monastery dendrological library. I remember my kindergarten teacher giving us old telephone books to fold into the exact same structures.
Post the most beautiful examples of book sculptures. Prague municipal library an extraordinary sculpture by matej kren. Municipal library of prague 2020 all you need to know. Have you ever been to the prague municipal library at marianske square. The prague municipal library at marianske square, prague, czech republic is definitely worth visiting because of an amazing sculpture made of numerous books by matej kren, a young czechoslovak artist.
The tree has book paper and black silk paper leaves. Prague in the age of amazon and the internet, the idea of going to a public library to borrow a book may seem ever more quaint and oldfashioned in. Then another friend found this book in the library. So when you go by the library, you should take a look inside to see this great piece. Central library of charles university central library of. If youre into history, religion, architecture or are just like me and love a good landscape and sunset by the river, read on to see where you can go. The klementinum library, an exquisite example of baroque architecture, was first opened in 1722 as part of the jesuit university, and houses over 20,000 books. Municipal library of prague 2020 all you need to know before. James the greater book tunnel in prague library the basilica of st. Informace o knihovne univerzity karlovy aplikace, sluzby, dokumenty, kontakt. While curling up in a corner of your home library is a great way to unwind, nothing i repeat nothing quite compares to pragues klementinum library completed in the 1700s, after over 170 years of construction, the klementinum is comprised of three structures the astronomical tower, meridian hall, and a library. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. This friend grew up in prague and she read the book in a single sitting. Inside the book tower at prague main library book tower.
Idiom is a sculpture by matej kren that can be seen at the prague library. Access to the infinity of knowledge and viewing the book tunnel was fascinating. Gigantic amazeme book maze in london will be made from 250,000 books. Matej krens idiom is a spellbinding tower made from. When you look down the middle of the sculpture, it looks like theres an endless vortex of books. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. Opposite it is the xyloteka 1825, a set of booklike boxes, each one bound in the wood and bark of the tree it describes, with samples of leaves, roots, flowers and fruits. I now begin to understand why he enjoys such a high reputation. Its also sometimes referred to as the tower of books and was installed in prague municipal library in 1998. That moment, when you pick up an old book from a shelf and wipe away thick layer of dust from its cover, is full of magic. Old and heavy books always seem like a mysterious and infinite well of wisdom and imagination for me. Each of the 68 volumes feature one czech tree which was common to the area in the 1800s, but not as a book with words printed on pages.
Artist transforms discarded books into spectacular crystallized artifacts. Due to the covid19 outbreak, all scott county library location are closed until further notice. Matej kren the author of the sculpture in the municipal. See more ideas about book art, book sculpture and art.
It all begins with a regular book, which is turned into a book sculpture by curling and folding each page until this object gradually morphs into a separate entity. Saw a picture of the book tower in the hotel we were staying at. The prague municipal library is now home to slovakian born artist. Here you will find information about pragues sights and other places of interest, a calendar of events, practical info, dining tips, and plenty of interesting articles. The slovakiaborn artist installed a tower of books entitled idiom beanfield. The prague municipal library is now home to slovakian born artist matej krens epic repurposed book tower. The worlds most beautiful library is in prague, czech. Prague is the story of five expatriots living in budapest in 1990, just after hungary became an independent nation. Prague, czech republic panoramic view of prague with the tower of the baroque library klementinum, the famous charles bridge philosophical hall strahov library prague strahov library, prague strahovs monastery baroque library book detail in. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book.
Beautiful baroque library hall in pragues clementinum is a great example of baroque library for it hasnt been changed since its foundation in 1722. The worlds most beautiful library is in prague, czech republic. See more ideas about book sculpture, sculpture and public art. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. David cerny woman sculpture prague editorial stock photo.
These tree books are like miniature ents you halfway expect them to blink open their ancient eyes and tell you stories. It still shows the organization of the library in the times of the jesuit college in prague. This 18thcentury library in prague is good for more than. Stack of books sculpture, prague library dave henri flickr. A first novel of startling scope and ambition, prague depicts an intentionally lost lost generation as it follows five american expats who come to budapest in the early 1990s to seek their fortunefinancial, romantic, and spiritualin an exotic city newly opened to the west. It is very selfconsciously written, and is best read slowly and savored. The whole sculpture is made from a discarded spanish book. It was voted as one of the most beautiful and majestic libraries in the world by our readers the ceiling frescoes of this library in prague were painted by jan hiebl. A reallife iteration of this dreamnightmare is on display at the prague municipal library. Why libraries are everywhere in the czech republic the. Access to the infinity of knowledge and viewing the book.
Called idiom, the spiraling tower of czech books are stacked to reach the ceiling. The hall of the main library in prague is dominated by a giant tower of books a. This treeshaped sculpture has been around for at least 50 years. The tree of knowledge book sculpture book art altered etsy. Clementinum in prague is considered the most beautiful. For several years there was a debate about expanding the space for future library collections as it was expected that the library would fill its capacity by 2010. It was voted as one of the most beautiful and majestic libraries in the world by our readers the ceiling. Matej krens idiom is a spellbinding tower made from hundreds of. Well, for the 21st century, you might want to give. The hours below reflect the availability of curbside pickup service only in each location and are subject to change. Until recently the complex hosted the national, university and technical libraries. Artist matej krens idiom is a longterm art installation where hundreds of books are stacked. Called idiom, the spiraling tower of czech books are stacked. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures.
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