Posted: 22 February 2008
Václav Havel in Europe’s Metamorphoses
Václav Havel in Europe Metamorphoses, a remarkable exhibition by Oldřich Škácha is currently on view at the UCD Global Irish Institute until 28 February 2008. A powerful and sometimes haunting visual history of an extraordinary man and the part he played in changing central Europe, the exhibition hosted by the UCD School of Politics & International Relations was opened by his Excellency, Josef Havlas, the Czech Republic Ambassador to Ireland.
Pictured at the exhibition (l-r): Ambassador of the Czech Republic Josef Havlas, James Stafford, Helena Maskova & Josef Symcek;
Pictured far right (l-r): Dr Hugh Brady, President, UCD and Ambassador of the Czech Republic Josef Havlas
The story of Václav Havel can be told in a variety of ways. His impact on Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic was that of a brave political leader who, in 1970 stood up alone to the Communist regime and their Soviet tanks. He became the first spokesman for Chapter 77, the movement that led to the “velvet revolution” and political freedom for the people, and went on to be the last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic in January 1993.
Pictured (l-r): Jean Brennan, Archbishop Dermot Martin, Ambassador of the Czech Republic Josef Havlas and Dr Derek Hutcheson
But, he is also a fine writer and dramatist. His first literary works were written during his military service in the late 1950s. In 1960 he began working at Prague’s Theatre on the Balustrade, first as a stagehand and later as an assistant director and literary manager. He studied dramatic art theory at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and by 1966 his first plays, including “The Garden Party” and “The Increased Difficulty of Concentration", had already achieved international acclaim. In 1969 his work was banned and he moved from Prague to the country where he continued his writing and his political activities. His plays continued to be performed across the world but it was not until 1989 that a Havel play “Protest” opened in Czechoslovakia.
Pictured (l-r): Vera Capkova and Prof Attracta Ingram, Head of UCD School of Politics & Interntaional Relations
Václav Havel in Europe’s Metamorphoses, hosted by the UCD School of Politics & International Relations, is on view at the UCD Global Irish Institute, upper-foyer of the Clinton Auditorium, Belfield.
