Uncovering Emil Filla's Surrealist Influence (1931–1939) in this Museum Kampa Exhibition

This exhibition delves into the significant but underexplored relationship between Emil Filla and the Surrealist movement in Czechoslovakia. It highlights Filla's crucial role in establishing modern art movements and his personal artistic inclination towards Surrealism in the early 1930s.

The exhibition 'Man With Burning Mane! Emil Filla and Surrealism 1931–1939' examines the profound yet under-researched connection between the prominent Czech artist Emil Filla and the Surrealist movement. Filla was instrumental in introducing and fostering Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism within the Czech art scene. While his engagement with the first two movements has been extensively studied, his contribution to Surrealism remains less explored. Filla provided essential support to the Surrealist Group in Czechoslovakia through exhibition spaces, publishing opportunities, and organizational backing via the Mánes Association of Fine Artists. His own artistic output from the early 1930s also demonstrated a clear inclination towards Surrealism, shifting towards monumental paintings of female nudes and mythological scenes inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses. Beyond his personal artistic development, Filla played a critical role as a mentor and facilitator for younger artists. He became a central figure for a generation of painters, sculptors, poets, and theoreticians, many of whom had previously been associated with the Devětsil group. Filla provided them with a stable platform within the Mánes Association, significantly influencing its publishing activities. He recognized Surrealism not as an isolated avant-garde trend but as an integral part of contemporary modern art. The exhibition showcases Filla's support for the Skupina surrealistů v ČSR (Group of Czechoslovak Surrealists), founded in 1934, highlighting his close relationships with key figures such as Vítězslav Nezval, Jindřich Štyrský, Toyen, and Karel Teige, as well as artists like Alois Wachsman and František Muzika who employed Surrealist elements. The Mánes Association, under Filla's influence, hosted the Surrealist Club's first exhibition and featured Surrealist contributions in its publications, fostering a vital dialogue between Filla's artistic vision and the burgeoning Surrealist movement.

Admission prices are: Adults 180 CZK, Students to the age of 26 and Seniors over 60 years of age 90 CZK, and Family 300 CZK.