This permanent exhibition from the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague explores the profound connection between applied arts, design, and human life across centuries. It showcases how objects, from liturgical items to contemporary design, shape our experiences, rituals, and understanding of the world.
The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague presents "Art, Life. Art for life," a permanent exhibition dedicated to European applied arts and design from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. The exhibition's core theme is the dynamic interplay between art and the human experience, demonstrating how objects not only serve functional and symbolic purposes but also influence lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural narratives. It highlights art's role in rituals, celebrations, exploration, and control, presenting a diverse range of manifestations from medieval liturgical items and Renaissance cabinets of curiosities to 19th-century heirlooms and the ambitious social aims of modern and contemporary design.
The exhibition emphasizes that applied arts and design transcend mere visual appreciation, actively shaping the full spectrum of human situations. It delves into the existential meaning of objects, their purpose, and the circumstances of their creation, without overshadowing the intrinsic quality of the exhibits, the craftsmanship of unique works, or the poetics found in everyday items. The Museum of Decorative Arts, established in 1885, systematically examines this creativity and its societal benefits, with this exhibition serving as a tribute to the generations of curators, experts, benefactors, and collectors who have contributed to its collections.