PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN PRAGUE JOINS OPENING
OF THE PRAGUE QUADRENNIAL 2015
The Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic joined the opening of the 13th Prague Quadrennial (PQ) of Performance Design and Space on 17 June 2015 at the Old Town Square. The PQ is organized and funded by the Czech Ministry of Culture and, as the name suggests, is held every four years. It is the world’s largest exhibition in the field of scenography and performance arts. The 11-day festival this year brings together representatives from 80 countries, with 150 expositions and exhibits and 600 live events in 50 venues around Prague. The main theme of the PQ 2015 is “SharedSpace: Music Weather Politics”.
The Philippine National Curator, Mr. Roland M. de Leon single-handedly designed and put up his exhibit at the Kafka House, drawing inspiration from recent calamities in the Philippines. The installation shows a man standing amidst a scene of devastation and surrounded by washed out bamboo poles. Mr. de Leon wanted visitors to see how Philippine theater productions are related to the country’s more-than-fair-share of calamities and destruction; and how Filipinos keep moving on past these struggles.
Another Philippine exhibit, the “Relief Box”, was also installed by Mr. de Leon, is currently displayed at the Student Section of the PQ.
On the second day of the PQ, 18 June 2015, Ambassador and Mrs. Vic Lecaros, First Secretary Juan E. Dayang, Director of PQ and the Arts and Theater Institute Ms. Pavla Petrova and other guests attended the “Day of the Philippines”. Visitors met the curator, organizers and other artists and were treated to Peanut Kisses from Bohol and drinks from the Philippines – Paradise Mango Rum Liqueur, Amadeo Coffee Liqueur and Manille Liqueur de Calamansi.
On 19 June 2015, the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc., (BKFI), a community theater group from Malolos, Bulacan, performed the “Pasyon Senakulo”. Guests and passers-by were delighted to see a captivating performance of the Passion of Christ at the open square of Ovocný trh. END.
