TOKYO

Mojm R Je Bek Director

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU was extremely successful in Austria in the diplomatic, social and cultural domains. The Czech Centre Vienna prepared an attractive programme. Very successful was the exhibition referring to Charter 77, “The Literature Night” project and the musical performance of the Czech opera singer Adam Plachetka who together with the conductor Roman Válek presented a new musical piece “Molieri”.

DOES CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IN AUSTRIA HAVE ANY SPECIFIC FEATURES?

Certainly. In terms of culture, Vienna is one of the world’s top cultural cities. The Czech-Austrian relations are based on our common cultural heritage. This was demonstrated, for example, by the great interest in the Brno-Pilsen exhibition about Adolf Loos. It presented the less known aspects of the generally famous personality.

WHAT ABOUT LITERATURE?

Reading was one of the features of the Presidency. A successful project was “The Literature Night” involving nine foreign cultural institutes and embassies. The biggest star of the evening was Jaroslav Rudiš, while the biggest discovery was the Maltese Adrian Grima. The Maltese language and literature are not very well known.

IN NOVEMBER YOU HAD A SIGNIFICANT MUSICAL GUEST...

Yes, Adam Plachetka presented his new “Molieri” project. The work includes opera arias by Mozart and Salieri. The two giants are not presented as enemies but rather as distinctive artists.

HOW DID YOU OPEN THE PRESIDENCY?

The “Vienna in Fine Arts” exhibition presented works of three visual artists who had been active around Charter 77 and was accompanied by the “Jan Patočka –Philosopher and Enemy of the State” project. Part of the exhibition was installed in the cellar with a chilling and yet impressive atmosphere of the philosopher’s funeral with the photo documentation made by the state security service and the roar of motorcycles which was supposed to drown out the moment of reverence.

WHY THIS EXHIBITION?

The theme of Charter 77 still strongly resonates in Austria. The name Patočka logically attracts attention. The positive approach to our Presidency was thus linked with the best tradition of our relations.

CZECHS AND AUSTRIANS. WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON AND HOW DO THEY DIFFER?

I will answer with a quote by Jiří Gruša: “We are one nation that differs in languages.”