Abandoned power plant in Czechia transformed into art center

The five-story gallery EPO1, converted from the former power plant in Poříčí, Trutnov, will open on 24 May.

In 2020, local businessman Rudolf Kasper and his wife started the renovation and complete transformation of the former power plant in Poříčí, Trutnov, to create a huge art center. The 3,400-square-meter space will house contemporary artworks and, thanks to its size, will even be able to accommodate large sculptures. According to the owners, this will be one of the main attractions of EPO1, as it will be able to host pieces that would not be allowed into traditional galleries and museums due to their size. The building also houses studios where giant sculptures by Czech artists Michal Gabriel and Čestmír Suška are being created. Furthermore, the building’s center features a 2,000-square-meter former turbine hall, which will host the main exhibitions. Smaller exhibition spaces will be installed in the attic and, as the final stage of the reconstruction, the space around the building will be rearranged to allow for outdoor exhibitions.

Although the official opening will not take place until 24 May, some artists have already inaugurated EPO1: art pieces by sculptor Pavlína Kvita and the late landscape photographer Jiří Havel were the first to be installed, with more Czech and international artists to follow in the near future. The opening will include three exhibitions: in the turbine hall, the exhibition Volume—the acoustic dimension in contemporary sculpture will take place, with various sound-emitting or sound-recording objects. The exhibition Power Post Station will focus on energy transformation in contemporary art, while Fresh Power will present the foundations of EPO1’s constantly expanding collection, aimed to explore the youngest generation of Czech and Slovak sculptors.

Photos: EPO1
Cover photo: Milan Cais, Disconnected

EPO1 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Source: Czech Design

• design
• czechia
• gallery
• exhibition
• epo1