VASE. A SYMBOL OF CULTURE AND LIFE

Exhibition concept: Jana Černovská, Radim Vondráček
Curator: Jana Černovská
Cooperation: Jan Mlčoch, Michal Stříbrný
Exhibition design: Hynek Fetterle
Graphic design: Petr Liška

The vase represents one of the oldest and most enduring material forms of human culture. As a universal cultural model, it has survived through the centuries, preserving its identity while evolving alongside changing cultural, social and artistic contexts. From prehistory to the present, the vase has remained a unique phenomenon of the decorative and visual arts, blending practical function and aesthetic value with a wealth of symbolic meanings.

Perhaps one of the first objects to become a complex metaphor for human existence, the vase symbolically alludes to the passage of time, the cycle of birth and death, man’s interconnection with nature, and the corporality of being. It also became a popular architectural element, representing tradition, the order of the universe and the perfection of the ideal form.

From the beginning, this seemingly ordinary object has manifested an extraordinary poetic charm. Whether shaped as a wine amphora, a floral vessel, or a funerary urn, the vase invariably reflects humanity’s relationship with the world. It stands as a testament to our place between heaven and earth, embodying the imaginary connection between the divine and the worldly. When considering the significance of the vase today, we see its unique ability to bridge epochs and cultures. As a link to history and the magic of objects at the dawn of civilization, it remains endlessly open to new interpretations and creative experiments.

The exhibition showcases the vase in all its forms and symbolic dimensions. Its incredible variability and timeless constancy have earned it a primary position among the fundamental cultural motifs of art and design.

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