Magazine

From Brussels 1958 to Aichi 2005

With the rapidly approaching opening of the next world exposition in the Japanese prefecture of Aichi in 2005, memories of previous world expositions are returning for those of us who were there - in particular those held after the Second World War. The world since Brussels 1958 has made tremendous progress but has also seen significant and profound changes in many areas of human knowledge and activities. Changes in the purpose, importance and form of world expositions have been one indirect result.

Yet in spite of these changes, the basic goal of world expositions remains unchanged: to provide visitors with the opportunity to become familiar with the whole world, its history, present and, most importantly, its future. World expos should show what humankind has achieved in its efforts to expand its knowledge and understanding and should present the very best of what humanity has produced. They should force people to think about where they have come from and, most importantly, where they are going. The basic question for each participating country is then to select a form of artistic expression that best expresses the motto of that particular exposition. By Brussels 1958, artists, architects, graphic designers, sculptors, filmmakers had already taken up the role of mediators, a link between the intellectual developers of the exposition, between the originators and implementers of ideas, between scientists, technologists and workers, and between the millions of curious and questioning visitors. They worked together as a group and found new possibilities for and means of expression.

In their materials, the developers of the winning proposal for the Czech Pavilion, presented how they wanted to express the main themes (for us) of Expo 2005, i.e. "Nature's Wisdom" and "The Art of Life." Among the values linked to these mottos are Nature, purity, unceasing change, volatility, transience, harmony, the cycle of rebirth, a consciousness of death and humility.

They have conceived of the main part of the pavilion as an interactive space. Visitors will be able to take part in games or relax on a grand staircase from where they will be able to watch the ever changing organism of the exposition.

We hope that with these new innovative forms and means, the team for Aichi 2005 will show that the Czech Republic remains a "superpower" in the world of exhibitions, always searching for new paths towards fulfilling the meaning and importance of world expositions. It is this renown that has led the Office of the General Commission for Czech Participation at the Expo 2005 World Exposition to organize an exhibition on Czechoslovak and Czech participation in world expos held after the Second World War and on preparations for our pavilion at Expo 2005 in the Japanese prefecture of Aichi.

This exhibition will be held on the ground floor of the Nostický Palace, which is today the seat of the Ministry of Culture. A part of this exhibition will be the presentation of one of the five events that will be held as a part of the Czech Republic's participation in Expo 2005. The chosen event is "The Week of Czech Glass - Captured Light and Space" and it will be presented in the palace's basement exhibition space.

This exhibition will be opened on November 25, 2004 and runs until February 18, 2005. Its goal is to introduce the history of Czechoslovak participation at Expo '58 in Brussels, Montreal 1967, Osaka 1970 - our most successful expo, Sevilla 1992 and the subsequent Czech participation in Hannover 2000 to both specialists and the general public.
This exhibition will present photographs documenting the most interesting pavilions that both made an impression on the memories of those who saw them but that also moved architectural design in this field forward.

A model of the current winning project for the interior together with models of two other finalists from the public tender will be on display to illustrate preparations for the Czech Republic's participation in Expo 2005. Together with the models will be blueprints and drawings depicting the exhibition that were a part of the public tender.

This will mark the first time the public will be presented with the basic appearance of our exhibition, this several months before Expo 2005's opening ceremony, which will be held on March 25, 2005.

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