Course General Description

The studio reflects on contemporary artistic and theoretical discourse, but also attempts to update and add new articulation to the list of existing sculptural approaches. According to the course leaders, penetrability of the boundaries of individual genres and media has already been established and they value the ‘expanded field of sculpture' as a self-evident heritage of the 1970s. Thus they intend to focus more on gaps in the understanding of sculpture, on exploring the possibilities of the sculpture in its widest sense and on what role it may play in contemporary life and art and what are its benefits, stereotypes and limitations for social engagement. The course views sculpture in all its forms, from the statue, object, installation and piece for public space to extra-sculptural disciplines, and in all essential technologies. The structure of learning is based on a regular program of repeating seminars and workshops led by invited personalities from the Czech Republic and abroad, joint studio meetings, studio exhibitions and individual consultations.

School General Description

The Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague was founded in 1885. Throughout its existence it has ranked among the best educational institutions in the country. It boasts a number of successful graduates who have gone on to become respected professionals, garnering acclaim beyond the Czech Republic. The school is divided into the departments of architecture, design, fine arts, applied arts, graphic and theory and history of art. Each department is divided into studios according to their specialist area. The studios are all led by leading figures of the Czech art scene. Twice a year the school opens to the public for a presentation of student work, entitled “Artsemestr”. Each year the school organises over 15 exhibitions, half of which are shown abroad. Prague UMPRUM, as one of the only schools of former post-communist countries, is featured in the index of prestigious European and world art schools.