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Dynamic art or traditional carnivals – Winter holiday destinations in Central Europe
Fancy going skiing or visiting a museum? Hiking through snowy landscapes or browsing in the warmth of a unique design shop? How about drinking a good coffee and trying out new food? It’s time to set foot in Kraków, Sofia, Brasov or Szentendre—cities with plenty of opportunities for
design
Book+covers | Antal Szerb: Journey by Moonlight
In Journey by Moonlight, a married couple travels to Italy—but the husband runs away from their honeymoon... Now we show you how the work, translated into many languages, has been published with different covers in different countries!
Antal Szerb (1901–1945) is one of the most popular Hungarian writers,
design
Colorful postcards bring turn-of-the-century Vienna to life
The Wiener Werkstätte’s 1911 postcards present the sights of the Austrian capital in vivid colors and geometric compositions.
After Budapest, Berlin, and Karlovy Vary/Karlsbad, this time we present turn-of-the-century Vienna through the postcards of the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops). As mentioned before, the Wiener Werkstätte was founded in
lifestyle
Preserving the Decay | Interview with Domagoj Burilović
Croatian photographer Domagoj Burilović has been photographing the once glorious, now crumbling buildings of the Slavonia region of Croatia for years. In addition to showing the unique architecture of the houses, he also reflects on social issues such as the exploitation of nature, colonialism, and emigration. The series won 1st
budapest
Around Budapest in 150 years with 10 Budapesters
People, words, buildings, stories and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
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“Cruises on the Danube: What a marvellous sight to behold!”—Cruise ships on the Danube during the Monarchy
Free navigation on the Danube became possible after the Treaty of Paris in 1856 ending the Crimean War, followed by the establishment of shipping companies, which led to the flow of people, animals, goods, news, and information on the river. By 1900, river traffic was in place with 100 boat
lifestyle
Oppenheimer’s partners from Central and Eastern Europe
Christopher Nolan’s new film tells the story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. The latter, of course, required many other scientists—many of whom came to the United States from Central and Eastern Europe.
Throughout the twentieth century, many
design
Red monoliths will mark Tirana’s new museum
Oppenheim Architecture won the design contract for the Besa Museum, which will symbolize the hospitality of Albania.
The competition was for the renovation and modernization of a historic building in the Albanian capital, and the creation of a contemporary cultural center in harmony with the historic architectural environment. The project
design
Turn-of-the-century postcards depict the famous Central European spa city
Vibrant, playful compositions depict the bustling life of the spa town of Karlovy Vary (formerly Karlsbad) at the turn of the century in 1909 postcards from the Wiener Werkstätte.
After Budapest and Berlin, this time we present the famous spa city of the late 1900s through the postcards of the
lifestyle
Explore the sights of Poland with the help of a new app!
Poland’s National Institute for Monument Conservation (NIKZ) has launched a new app to encourage and help people discover the country’s monuments and rich cultural heritage.
The new service, MonumentApp, works with Google Maps and offers, among other things, ready-made sightseeing itineraries based on different interests and themes. It
design
Here are the nominees for the Czech Architecture Award
Candidate buildings range from cafés and monuments to education centers and public parks.
The primary aim of the Czech Architecture Award is to raise public awareness of architecture. The competition focuses on showcasing the aesthetic and technical excellence of projects, while also taking into account their relationship to their surroundings
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with András Ferkai
People, words, buildings, stories and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
design
Intuition, Experimentation and Playfulness | Interview with Zane Priede
Zane Priede is an art director, photographer, and set designer based in Riga, Latvia. She studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven and has won several awards in the last few years. In her work, she experiments with unexpected combinations of materials, discovers nuances of light, and searches for new ways
design
Map of modern architecture in Vienna published
Blue Crow Media’s latest urban guide, the Modern Vienna Map presents the city’s 20th-century modern architecture.
Featuring remarkable examples of modern architecture in Vienna, this bilingual guide includes details of 50 buildings, an introduction, and photography by Gili Merin. Featured on the map are functionalist works by Adolf
design
Book+covers | Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Being
In Milan Kundera’s novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the protagonists are confronted with the easy and difficult choices they make in life. Now we show you how the work, translated into many languages, has been published with different covers in different countries!
Milan Kundera, the Czech-born French writer
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Faces and landscapes of Petőfi’s people | Interview with Róbert László Bácsi and Balázs Mohai
In a long-term project, the Hungarian documentary photography group Pictorial Collective captured the residents of streets named after Sándor Petőfi, providing a subjective snapshot of contemporary Hungarian society. We asked two members of the collective, Róbert László Bácsi and Balázs Mohai, about organization, travel, special encounters, the Hungarian countryside, and
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Around Budapest in 150 years with Boggie
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestyle
Love for the Silesian mines—Interview with Marek Locher
Marek Locher is a Polish documentary photographer, who has been documenting Silesian mines for a long time. We asked him about how he started photographing, why he chose the Silesian landscape and the mine as a subject, how he interacts with the miners, and how difficult it is to work
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Art and illustration based on emotions | Interview with Tomasz Pieñczak
Tomasz Pieñczak is a Polish illustrator and art director who has worked with companies such as Volkswagen, DHL, and Ibis Hotel, but has also produced work for a number of Polish clients, including Szosa bicycle magazine in Wrocław and the printing house Drukomat. We asked Tomasz about his daily routine,
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Documentary and album released on Hutsul music and folklore
Independent Ukrainian radio station Gasoline has released a documentary entitled Spadok (Heritage) on the music and traditions of the Hutsul region and an album of contemporary artists using Hutsul melodies.
Gasoline Radio was launched a year ago during the full-scale invasion of the Ukraine-Russia war by the team of enthusiasts
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Anthems of Central and Eastern Europe—Interview with Csaba G. Kiss | Printed Pasts
What are the similarities and differences in the anthems of the East-Central European region? How did they develop and what types exist? Csaba G. Kiss presents the anthems of thirteen countries of the region, highlighting the similarities in our way of thinking and mentality, while at the same time initiating
design
Lego has created a model of the Nobel Prize-winning Polish poetess Szymborska
To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Wisława Szymborska, the toy company has created a model to honor the poetess.
The scene, which consists of around twenty-one thousand pieces and is on display in the Małopolska Garden of Arts (MOS) in Szymborska’s hometown of Krakow, depicts the
design
Book+covers | Franz Kafka: The Trial
In Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial, Josef K. is arrested one day and never finds out what crime he has actually committed. Now we show how the work, translated into many languages, has been published in different countries with different covers.
Franz Kafka’s 1914-15 novel was published posthumously
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The memory of forgotten objects—Europe Archive
The Europe Archive made by the Dutch Erik Kessels and the French Thomas Mailaender is a long-term project that aims to reconstruct a collective memory of Europe by presenting their collection of unique artefacts which they have gathered at European flea markets, second-hand and antique shops, and the internet.
The
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The magic of Poznań staircases
Poznań guide Zbigniew Zachariasik’s recently published book, The Staircases of Poznań, showcases some of the most beautiful staircases in the Polish city, and their magical details.
Zachariasik first used a smartphone to take pictures of various buildings in Poznań, and then, during his urban explorations, he ventured into Matejki
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Around Budapest in 150 years with Orsolya Karafiáth
People, words, buildings, stories and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestyle
Serbian Nikola Jokic reaches the top of the NBA
Nikola Jokic has become the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, winning the championship with his team, the Denver Nuggets.
Jokic, born in 1995 in Sombor, Serbia, first played for Mega Basket in Belgrade and since 2015 has been in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets. He is a two-time Kia
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Restored altarpiece, urban festival, and archived internet | Europa Nostra winners in the Region
The European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced yesterday the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2023, which included several Central and Eastern European projects.
Europa Nostra represents civil society organisations working for the preservation of Europe’s cultural and natural heritage. The annual festival Budapest 100,
design
Book+covers | Ivo Andrić: The Bridge on the Drina
Ivo Andrić’s Nobel Prize–winning historical novel, The Bridge on the Drina, follows the fate of the people in a small Bosnian town and the twists and turns of history—with the bridge over the Drina River as a central character in a story spanning four centuries. Let’s
global
I’m deep-rooted in the East | Interview with Rafał Milach
Rafał Milach (b. 1978, Poland) is a visual artist and photographer who has been working on long-term projects on topics related to the transformation of the former Eastern Bloc. We sat down with Rafał to discuss his works; how photography can be a tool of propaganda and change; the near
lifestyle
Prague Quadrennial opens today
Between 8 and 18 June, the event will showcase over three hundred works by more than a hundred artists.
Since 1967, the Prague Quadrennial has been showcasing the best works of scenography, with an emphasis on the autonomy of the art form. This year, the main venue will be the
design
This is what Kyiv looks like captured on a Game Boy
Ukrainian photographer and musician Oleg Drofa evokes the pixelated aesthetic of the 1990s in his series of photographs of Kyiv.
“I really wanted to see it in a special way, in my own way, and to capture some of the most prominent historical spots. Therefore, I decided to experiment and
lifestyle
Regional exhibition overview | Summer 2023
Stories of cities, female artists, environmental impact, glass, metal, and textile design—we show you which exhibitions to see this summer, showcasing the work of Central and Eastern European artists from across the region.
Art in the Age of the Anthropocene
Is art possible and needed during an environmental crisis?
design
Discover the very best murals in Warsaw
The large murals feature animals and people, as well as funny and serious topics.
The murals include an image that was painted in a day, composed of several thousand tangled strands merging to form a bird perched on a cobra, one that depics statuesque figures of classical art in direct
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with Magdolna Vékás
People, words, buildings, stories and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
design
Turn-of-century Berlin and more on cheerful Art Nouveau postcards
The Wiener Werkstätte’s 1911 postcards present the sights of the German capital in vivid colors and playful compositions.
After Budapest, this time we present Berlin in the early 1910s through the postcards of the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops). As mentioned before, the Wiener Werkstätte was founded in 1903 by
lifestyle
We are creating something truly lasting | Színes falu, színes ház program in Zánka starts
Street art on a stone fence in Zánka, a contemporary painting on a house wall, colors and melodies in pairs, DJ Q-cee’s set in a house yard, the most exciting underground pop artists in Hungary, and a concert of the local children’s choir in a renovated barn; a
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Arboretum and ecological center opens in Bratislava
The center in the Kamzík resort area will host nature-related events, while the arboretum will house rare trees.
“The idea of creating an eco-center in Kamzík, where it would be possible to offer programs to schools or the public regardless of the weather, arose in 2015. Since then we have
lifestyle
Brain researcher meets artist on the gallery wall
How do human brains resemble cities, cells resemble urbanites? How can an ordinary urban photograph explain biological phenomena and how can abstract art reveal the brain’s evolution? Biophilia, an exhibition at the K11 Labor in Budapest, is the result of the joint reflections and work of brain scientist Dániel
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Saul Steinberg’s cat cozies up on the Eames armchair
A collaboration between Vitra, Herman Miller, Eames Office, and Steinberg’s estate, the hand-painted chair is limited to 500 units.
Eames Office first developed their now-iconc shell chair in 1950. Shortly after the chair was produced for the first time, Romanian-born American artist Saul Steinberg paid a visit to Eames
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The first AI-based graphic novel memoir
The publication is a collection of eleven short stories set in Eastern Europe in the early to mid-1990s.
The work evokes the stark beauty and drama of those transient years when democracy was evolving in Eastern Europe, and when the author was simoultaneously coming into his own as an adult.
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Strawberry inspired Oana Stănescu’s captivating installation
Fresa by Oana Stănescu is inspired by and dedicated among others to the strawberry pickers and estimated 1 million seasonal workers in agriculture across the EU.
An ode to the fruit, the earth, and the people that help bring this beloved produce to the table and our lips, the intervention
lifestyle
Orlando Bloom named brand ambassador for Staropramen
The American actor fell in love with the Czech capital, where Staropramen beer is produced, while filming Carnival Row.
Bloom was in Prague for the filming of the TV series Carnival Row from the end of 2017 until 2021, with several breaks. More recently, in his role as a UN
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Magical secessionist postcards from Budapest at the turn of the century
The Wiener Werkstätte’s 1911 postcards present the sights of the Hungarian capital in cheerful colors and playful compositions.
The Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) was founded in 1903 by businessman Friedrich Waerndorfer and two prominent figures of the Vienna secession, architect Josef Hoffmann and artist Koloman Moser. The company emphasized
lifestyle
The absurd humor of political ceremonies—Interview with Nikola Mihov | Printed Pasts
Nikola Mihov is a Bulgarian artist, photographer, and curator based in Sofia. In his photobook He Breaks, He Cuts, He Spills (published by Janet 45 in 2021) we can see Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria’s former Communist leader, doing three repetitive gestures during welcoming and opening ceremonies: breaking bread, cutting ribbons,
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New Skoda Superb to be unveiled soon
The fourth generation Skoda Superb will be launched in autumn 2023, 90 years after its historic predecessor was introduced.
In a new teaser video, the Czech carmaker has gathered all previous versions of the Superb around the soon-to-be-launched model, which is being kept under wraps for now. The footage comes
design
Vote for the best new buildings of Warsaw!
Until May 21, the public can vote for the best new buildings in Warsaw.
This year, a total of seventeen projects in six categories (public, public space, commercial, regeneration, residential, architectural events) have been selected by a jury of experts from several architectural institutions.
You can vote for the best
lifestyle
A journey of inner and outer landscapes | Dreamscapes by Dóra Kontha
The experimental analog photographs of Dóra Kontha’s album entitled Dreamscapes are filled with personal memories, sensations, and emotions belonging to different physical places.
Photography most often serves to capture reality, to reproduce a given thing as faithfully as possible. But it can also be used to create scenes that
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A documentary series on Ukraine’s architectural heritage
The five-part film portrays the authentic and folk architectural treasures of the war-torn regions of Ukraine (excluding the Russian-occupied territories).
The project called Strikha (meaning ‘the roof’ in Ukrainian) seeks to trigger public discussions around the traditional Ukrainian architecture and how to preserve it. The expedition throughout Ukraine kickstarted in
lifestyle
First photo festival by AI—the Riga Photomonth kicks off
In May 2023, the renowned international photography festival Riga Photomonth will showcase an exciting exhibition series entitled Latvia through AI. The exhibition will feature a visual study of Latvia, created by three artificial intelligence image generators. It highlights a trend in the world of photography where artificial intelligence is becoming
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with Bori Koniorczyk
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
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A chair with heart and soul
Polish firm Frantagroup Architects has designed an unusual chair, adding a heart-shaped coaster to the classic Thonet chair.
Designed for Paged as part of the new AlterEgo collection, the chair is called Cuore because of its heart-shaped coaster and its fiery red color. “Cuore is a manifesto of love, community,
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Hidden treasures of Bukovyna | The Babyn Buchok project
Ornate wells, brightly colored houses, old photographs, wooden churches, and small chapels, all set against a backdrop of stunning scenery. Bukovyna is a lesser-known but all the more magical region of Eastern Europe. We interviewed the creators of the Babyn Buchok project, a showcase of the hidden treasures of Bukovyna,
lifestyle
Soul and Spirit—Estonian Music Days begins this week
Estonian Music Days, the annual festival of contemporary music held since 1979, will present two themes for the first time this year.
The festival will take place in Tallinn, in Tartu, and online. In the capital, this year’s festival will focus on the soul and breathing. Souls meet for
design
New design for Prague’s Českomoravská metro station
The metro station will feature glass and enamel, which will not only make it look magical but also protect it from groundwater.
Maxim Velčovský and the architects of edit! have won the competition for the redesign, which will replace the original ceramic tiles with glass plates, continuing the tradition of
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Book+covers | Stanisław Lem: Solaris
Stanisław Lem’s novel Solaris follows the strange adventures of psychologist Chris Kelvin on a space station hovering above the surface of the distant planet Solaris. Let’s take a look at some of the different covers of this book, which has been translated and published all over the world.
design
Bratislava’s biggest fountain revived
After sixteen years, the flower-shaped steel fountain will be back in service on Bratislava’s Námestie Slobody.
The Družba fountain in Bratislava’s Námestie Slobody (Freedom Square) will be back in operation this summer. The fountain was built in 1980 by architects Virgil Droppa and Juraj Hlavica and sculptors Karol
lifestyle
Capturing the collapse of the USSR and the Dust afterward—Interview with Mariusz Forecki | Printed Pasts
Mariusz Forecki is a documentary photographer and author of several books. In his photobook titled Kurz /Пыль/Dust, he gathered photographs from his numerous travels around the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics—in the final stage of its existence and during the formation of a new socio-political order. He
lifestlye
The most exciting international and Hungarian contemporary blues artists to perform in Veszprém
Between April 13 and 16, Grammy and Blues Award-winning stars and Hungarian musicians will perform more than 50 concerts over four days in Veszprém as part of the European Year of Culture.
The Veszprém Blues Festival not only pays homage to the tradition of a great genre but also introduces
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New Vydrica complex visualization released
The construction of Vydrica, one of the most anticipated development projects in Bratislava, is progressing according to plan.
The complex will comprise 375 apartments, offices, shops, and cultural spaces on 3.7 hectares of land. The first apartments will be ready for occupancy in the second half of 2024.
The
design
Uzbekistan showcases its rich heritage at the Venice Biennale of Architecture
The pavilion explores different layers of the country’s architectural heritage.
The Art and Culture Development Foundation under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ACDF) has appointed the Franco-Moroccan Studio KO to curate the pavilion, which previously worked on the transformation of a 1912 Tashkent diesel station
lifestyle
Czechia to host the Ice Hockey World Championship again in 2024
After nine years, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship returns to Czechia, to be held in Prague and Ostrava between 10 and 26 May 2024.
Next year, Czechia will host the world’s premier ice hockey event for the 11th time. “Although there is still more than a year to
lifestyle
Moldova’s 90s vibes | The Rama Albastră project
Adidas tracksuits, Coca-Cola, skirts with beach patterns, and parties. Despite the difficulties that followed the regime change, the vibes of the 90s were just as present in Moldova as anywhere. We can see all this and much more from the past of the country thanks to the Rama Albastră project,
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with Ábel Zsendovits
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestyle
A library named after Milan Kundera opens in Brno
The institute opened its doors in the building of Morva Library in Brno on the 1st of April, the 94th birthday of the world-famous Czech writer.
Born in Brno in 1929, Milan Kundera emigrated to France in 1975 and has lived there ever since. He has won numerous literary prizes
lifestyle
Slovenian Days in Dallas
From 6 to 8 April 2023, Texas Feels Slovenia will promote the Central European country in the United States.
A set of unique events to promote business, sports, science and tourism opportunities for the American market in Slovenia was held for the first time last year. The Business Investment Conference
design
The Kunsthalle Praha Collection: 50 Highlights
Through fifty selected works of art, this book presents the first closer look at the collection of Kunsthalle Praha.
The mission of Kunsthalle Praha is to “connect the Czech and the international art scenes, to present innovative perspectives on the art and culture of the twentieth and twenty-first century”. To
lifestyle
Other kind of attractions in Bratislava | Lenka L. Lukačovičová: Lonely Planet Trnávka
Lenka L. Lukačovičová’s project Lonely Planet Trnávka shows us an unknown face of Bratislava, which you won’t find in any kind of travel guide.
Hlavné námestie (Main Square), Blue Church, Museum of City History, Castle, Saint Martin’s Cathedral. These are the ‘Top Choices’ among the ‘Must See
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Around Budapest in 150 years with Vilmos Kondor
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
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Book+covers | Bohumil Hrabal: I Served the King of England
Bohumil Hrabal’s novel I Served the King of England tells the story of a waiter who goes from being a busboy to a hotel owner to a penniless old man, laced with political and erotic adventures. Let’s take a look at some of the different covers of this
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Back when looking at tobacco packaging was a pleasure | Virtual Tobacco Museum
Alluring female figures, mysterious landscapes, floral ornamentation, stylized cityscapes, and geometric shapes. It was not so long ago that tobacco packaging was characterized by artistic design and refined elegance. The virtual Tobacco Museum (Dohánymúzeum) collects and presents mainly the products of the Hungarian tobacco industry. We asked Balázs Hornyák, the
lifestyle
Willem Dafoe breaks for Ukrainian borscht while in Prague
The Hollywood actor is in town to film the remake of Nosferatu, currently shooting in Prague’s Barrandov Studios.
The remake of the 1922 German expressionist horror classic Nosferatu is directed by Robert Eggers and filming is well underway, while Willem Dafoe popped into a restaurant in the Vinohrady neighborhood
lifestyle
Polish oak voted European Tree of the Year
In 2023, a tree in Łódź was the winner out of the sixteen finalists.
Since 2011, the European Tree of the Year contest has been searching for the trees with the most interesting story in Europe, with the final consisting of the winners of the national rounds. This year’s
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Brutalist Visions | The works of Clemens Gritl
Since completing his architectural studies, Clemens Gritl has been designing 3D computer models, reflecting and exploring urban utopias of the 20th century. His work focuses on the interaction between space, dimension, scale, monotony, and materiality of urban megastructures and their possible impact on human beings. We asked Clemens about the
lifestyle
European Tree of the Year winner announced today
Since 2011, the European Tree of the Year contest has been searching for trees with the most interesting story in Europe. The 2023 winner will be announced today, 21 March.
The European Tree of the Year contest, inspired by the popular Czech Tree of the Year contest, has been held
design
i am u are—Ukrainian Creators Fair in New York
At i am u are, one can get acquainted with over 100 Ukrainian creators’ culture, tech, and fashion projects, purchase one-of-a-kind items, and enjoy the rich event program.
I am u are is the Ukrainian Creators Fair, founded by Anna Pagava, CEO of GOGŌLA agency, and Kristina Skripka, a hospitality
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Festival of Lights Zagreb kicks off
The combination of art, design, spectacle, entertainment, and architecture will once again light up the Croatian capital.
The Festival of Lights Zagreb is not only a place of magical light installations, stunning projections, and playful animations, but also a place of good vibes and positive energy, and an event to
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with Sándor Bardóczi
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestlye
The secret life of panel dwellers | Photo series by Balázs Somorjai
Dozens of antlers and bus models, IKEA furniture and granny sofas, pets and stuffed animals, guitars and a chandelier left over from Socialism—this and much more can be discovered in Balázs Somorjai’s photographs of Budapest’s panel dwellers.
Panel houses (‘panelház’ or ‘panel’ is a Hungarian term for
design
Combining Ukrainian style and Japanese aesthetics | The MAKHNO Studio
The MAKHNO Studio has been creating projects intertwining Ukrainian traditions, world trends, and the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, forces of nature, human talent, and an architectural mentality since 2003. We talked with the founder, Serhii Makhno about the beginnings, the importance of imperfection and ancient techniques, his collection, and his
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The Magic of Odesa – Interview with Yelena Yemchuk | Printed Pasts
Yelena Yemchuk grew up in Kyiv but emigrated to the USA with her family when she was still a child. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, she had the chance to return to Ukraine, and when she first visited Odesa, she was fascinated by its atmosphere. From 2015 she
design
Matterhorn removed from Toblerone packaging
From late 2023, part of the production will move to Slovakia, so the image of the Swiss mountain peak will no longer be authorized to use.
“Swissness” legislation introduced in 2017 restricts the use of the national flag, as well as other indicators of Swiss provenance, in foodstuffs, industrial products,
lifestlye
Images of reality and works of imagination | Regional exhibition overview | Spring 2023
Latvian still lifes, groundbreaking Polish sculpture, and Czech press photography—here are the exhibitions to see this spring, showcasing artwork from Central and Eastern Europe in the region and beyond.
Re-encounter: The Art Collection of Yakov Rubinstein
Warsaw-born Yakov Rubinstein (1900-1983) was one of the earliest Soviet art collectors. Although
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with Dávid Zubreczki
People, words, buildings, stories, and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestyle
Vanishing mysticism | Alexander Bronfer’s photos of the Dead Sea
Alexander Bronfer spent many years photographing the west coast of the Dead Sea to capture the magical atmosphere of the place, peaceful and unsettling at the same time.
Bronfer was born in the Soviet Union, in present-day Ukraine, studied in St Petersburg, then worked in Lithuania for a few years
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Nordic World Ski Championships start today in Planica, Slovenia
Between 21 February and 5 March, Planica will host Slovenia’s biggest sporting event ever, the 43rd Nordic World Ski Championships.
Located in a protected glacial valley in the northern Julian Alps, Planica, also referred to as the Snow Queen, is one of the country’s national symbols. The first
design
Postmodern reinvented—a unique office building in the heart of Warsaw
Modern office space, original design, attention to environmental and social factors, openness to people, and a great location in the center of Warsaw. All this is combined in HOP, a postmodern office building from the 1990s, now modernized by Warsaw-based Syrena Real Estate.
Originally built in 1996, HOP (formerly Aktyn)
lifestyle
Around Budapest in 150 years with András Török
People, words, buildings, stories and moods—all of these and more have contributed to creating the Budapest we know today over the past 150 years. To mark the anniversary, we asked people who are connected to the capital by a thousand (or at least a hundred and fifty) threads about
lifestyle
Hidden and authentic | Documentary photos from Moldova
Rusty red stars and carport behind the church, horses and Ladas, children and old people playing happily. The documentary images on the Raw/Moldova website show small, joyful and absurd scenes of urban and rural life in Moldova. We asked the creators of the site about the project.
You started
lifestyle
The Slovene Cultural Holiday arrives tomorrow
On the 8th of February, the anniversary of the death of the poet France Prešeren, the Slovene Cultural Holiday will be celebrated in Slovenia and among Slovenian communities in neighboring countries.
On the eve of the celebration, two artists will receive lifetime achievement awards and up to six will receive
design
Prague’s Bohemia restaurant is back to its former glory
The restaurant, built in 1891 and located in Prague’s Výstaviště exhibition area, stood abandoned for years but has now been completely renovated and will soon open its doors to the public.
The refurbishment of the Bohemia restaurant is part of a long-term plan to revitalize the entire Výstaviště. The
lifestyle
Blessed Food and Hidden Cameras – Interview with James A. Kapaló | Printed Pasts
James A. Kapaló’s research has primarily focused on the history and experience of religious and ethnic minorities in Central and Eastern Europe. He works ethnographically with communities, archives and museum collections to explore vernacular knowledge, religious practices and local memory. He was also one of the editors of the
lifestyle
New photos from Warsaw Ghetto Uprising published
Never-before-seen photographs of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 have been released—from an attic.
The photographs were taken by Zbigniew Leszek Grzywaczewski, then in his early twenties. His photos, some of which have been published before, are the only ones not taken from the German side during the uprising.
lifestyle
Cold War from the mold | Interview with János B. Szabó
The Budapest History Museum—Castle Museum’s new exhibition, Kádár (játék)katonái (meaning Kádár’s [Toy] Soldiers), presents the world of injection-molded plastic figures of the twentieth century and their socio-political aspects. Why were the toy soldiers from Hungary special within the Eastern Bloc? Which countries’ figures made it across
business
Bratislava’s GBC5 office building completed
Galvaniho Business Center 5 is the fifth unit of the administrative center located on the eastern edge of Bratislava’s Ružinov borough, near the D1 highway and the airport.
GBC 5 is a multifunctional unit in a building complex consisting of commercial parks, shopping malls and rows, showrooms, hotels, and
lifestyle
Head bonnet, tichel, chador—a pop-up exhibition on headscarves
The pop-up exhibition of the Museum of Ethnography entitled They Tie the Knot (free translation) introduces visitors to the traditions of wearing headscarves in Hungarian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures.
In addition to its concealing and protective function, the headscarf has become a multi-layered symbol of women’s identity, social status,
design
Melancholy blooms in this new collection from Prague
Prague-based Gloom Bloom seeks beauty even in challenging times.
The collection, a collaboration between Czech designer Marek Ehrenberger and Mexican designer Andrea Falduda, responds to the end-of-summer gloom with the bold colors of exotic flowers. The result was a collection of three coherent illustrations, dubbed Gloom Bloom. “Gloom Bloom is
design
Elegant and Soulful | NOMIS Jewelry
NOMIS Jewelry is a Ukraine-based fine jewelry brand founded in 2020 by Alyona Kiperman. All jewelry pieces are crafted individually with the vision of today’s fast-evolving world in mind. The jewelry made by Alyona is multifunctional, elegant, and soulful. We asked her about the first steps, her sources of
ukraine
“I was looking forward so much to the spring, for everything to go into blossom.”—stories of Ukrainian refugees
The UAtlas project collects stories and portraits of Ukrainians who fled to Poland from the war.
More than five million war refugees crossed the border into Poland as a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The UAtlas team interviewed them at the Polish–Ukrainian border, Lviv, and Warsaw. “Here
design
Watch snowflakes in the winter heat!
William Bentley’s nineteenth-century photographs of snow crystals have now been digitized.
Throughout his life, William Bentley was obsessed with snow, ice, and other natural forms of water. Over nearly half a century, he took more than five thousand photographs of snowflakes, but he was also the first American to
design
Ukrainian artist creates glass mandala in a Polish Jewish cemetery
Ruslan Kolmykov used small, broken pieces of mirrors to create his work, Source, for the Jewish cemetery in the Polish town of Kalisz.
The work aims to promote good relations between the local Jewish, Polish, and Ukrainian communities. Kolmykov fled to Poland after the invasion of Ukraine, and his message
design
Warsaw’s iconic building reimagined in the style of world-famous architects
Polish artist Jacek Jabłoński used artificial intelligence to see what the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw would look like if it had been designed by Zaha Hadid or Frank Gehry.
The Palace of Culture and Science is a controversial yet iconic building in the Polish capital, built between
lifestyle
Prague City Tourism celebrates its 65th anniversary
Prague City Tourism celebrates the 65th anniversary of its foundation this year with a year-long series of events.
The association, originally called the Prague Information Service in 1958, changed its name in 2018 and has undergone a major transformation: it no longer just provides information but also aims to improve
design
Tallinn approves new passenger terminal plan
The Tallinn City Council approved the Rail Baltic Ülemiste passenger terminal project back in December, which aims to improve public transport in the Estonian capital.
According to the plans, an area of 11.47 hectares in the Ülemiste district will be transformed into a transport hub connecting different means of
lifestyle
Prague’s old-new tourist attraction: the Book Tower
It was through TikTok videos that Matěj Krén’s Idiom, in the Municipal Library of Prague, became famous.
The Czech capital’s old-new tourist attraction has been around for twenty-five years. The circular structure of eight thousand books was created by Slovak artist Matěj Krén in 1998 to mark the
lifestyle
Novi Sad has a lot to offer | Interview with Sara Vuletić
Novi Sad was awarded the European Capital of Culture for 2022 in 2016. A lot has happened in the last six years, and especially in 2022 in the very first Serbian city to ever hold this title: more than 1,500 cultural events and 4,000 local, national and international
lifestyle
Three exhibitions to see in Vienna this year
Before or after the Bejgli, but at the latest after the New Year’s lentils, head to Vienna, where three special exhibitions are on show until the early January.
BASQUIAT. The Retrospective
One of the best-known artists of the 1980s New York art scene, Jean-Michel Basquiat went from street graffiti
lifestyle
We’re glad to have you at SKCNS Fabrika in Novi Sad! | Interview with Igor Todorović
Igor Todorović—or as locals know him, Zgro—has been living in Novi Sad since his birth. He has been part of the local underground scene since the end of 1980s, and in the last twenty years, he has been organizing concerts and exhibitions, promoting bands and artists, and publishing
lifestyle
Wrapped in letters | Regional Gift Guide
For the long, cold months after Christmas, it’s always good to have a couple of books ready—even if they are not about light-hearted topics. We’ve collected works by Central and Eastern European authors published in English in 2022. So, even if there are no translations in your
design
Animal-themed objects to put on or under your Christmas Tree | Regional Gift Guide
Animals are cute. Even if they are not always like that in real life, a designer can make them look adorable at any time, and alll we have to do is choose our favorite animal-themed object.
Minka Klbečková
Thanks to Slovakian Minka Klbečková, you can hang practically any animal
design
Combining Emotions and Practicality | Interview with Sacha Lakic
French company Roche Bobois is a leading player in the world of high-end furniture design and distribution, where every piece of furniture is the result of close collaboration between designers and manufacturers. One of the brand’s designers is Serbian-born Sacha Lakic, who came to the Roche Bobois Flagship Store
design
Warsaw’s Browary receives award for best urban regeneration
Browary Warszawskie, in the Polish capital of Warsaw, has been named the world’s best in the urban regeneration category of the MAPIC awards.
Work on Browary, which began in 2016 and finished last year, covered almost four and a half hectares and involved the rehabilitation of a former brewery
lifestyle
Photobooks for under the tree | Regional Gift Guide
The year 2022 has once again seen the publication of some exceptional photobooks by artists from Central and Eastern Europe, and others choosing the region as their subject. We have included some of our favorites in today’s selection.
Bára Prášilová: Circles
Surreal and bizarre images, with a touch of
lifestyle
UBiennale presents Ukrainian artworks this December
The first Ukrainian Biennale of Digital and Media Art was organized in 2021. Despite the blackouts, this year’s event in Kyiv, Lviv and Uzhhorod will showcase works by Ukrainian and international artists that were featured last year.
The first UBiennale presented more than fifty works by artists from fifteen
lifestyle
Pathways in the universe | Exhibitions in Novi Sad
In 2022, Novi Sad will be one of the holders of the European Capital of Culture title, and although the end of the year is quickly approaching, there are still plenty of activities going on, so it is well worth a visit to Serbia’s second-largest city. This time, we
lifestyle
Prague clock is counting down to stop climate change
In Prague’s Letná park a clock counts down to the point of no return of irreversible climate change. The 8-meter-high, 35-meter-wide clock stands beside the Metronome, on the pedestal where the statue of Stalin once stood.
The clock erected by the organization behind Festival svobody (Freedom Festival), who are
lifestyle
More than taboo-busting pictures | Interview with Éva Szombat
Éva Szombat had spent five years studying women’s sexuality: their stories, traumas and joys, desires, and sex toys. The series I Want Orgasms, Not Roses was awarded the Robert Capa Grand Prize in 2021, and in 2022 it was finally published in book form by none other, than the
design
The new collection of GUNIA Project brings back our childhood memories
The main theme of GUNIA Project’s 2023 New Year’s collection is the rabbit. The Ukrainian brand once again revives Ukrainian craft traditions in the form of fresh and fashionable objects. We asked the founders about the new collection, the symbol of the rabbit, and their favorite object.
The
design
Green and sustainable | Vizafogó Ecopark wins Budapest Architecture Award
The Vizafogó Pavilion and Ecopark, a joint project of Archikon Architects and Objekt Landscape Architect Office, won the 2022 Budapest Architecture Award. With this, Budapest has recognized an inspiring, green, and sustainable landscape architecture and architectural solution that focus on a responsible design approach for the cities of the future.
design
A new footbridge was built in Sofia’s popular park
Boele Architects, based in London and Prague, has won an open international contest to design and build a new bridge in Sofia’s South Park for pedestrians and cyclists.
Opened in 1972, South Park stretches from the outskirts of Sofia to the National Palace of Culture in the city center.
lifestyle
Urban Jungle Budapest is a mindset | Interview with Nóra Hadobás
Indoor plants, parks, plant-covered walls, and balconies overflowing with flowers—the Urban Jungle Budapest team has been looking for the city’s greenery since 2018, and organizing a series of walks and workshops to create a community of plant lovers who help each other. Their latest program explores edible plants
lifestyle
Faces of cities | 32nd Bratislava Month of Photography
Every November, the Bratislava Month of Photography presents exhibitions that reflect current events in the world and showcase the values of photography. This year, the Slovak capital will once again host a number of exhibitions, mainly by Slovak and Central European artists. Let’s take a look at three of
lifestyle
Budapest is celebrating
Budapest is celebrating its 149th birthday and the Nyitva! festival is being held again in Erzsébetváros.
Five cinemas in the capital are preparing for Budapest’s birthday with a mini-festival, including a stand-up night, improvisational theater, film premieres, and concerts on Friday, 18 November. The event also marks the start
lifestyle
Working together for the city | The Bulgarian Team Sofia
Team Sofia is an association of experts, citizens, and organizations committed to the future of Sofia. They spoke about projects, plans, and challenges in their presentation at the Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre in Budapest.
“We believe that our city needs to start to be governed in a new way, and
Spectacular and sustainable—The Colosseum stage by Hello Wood | Interview with Balázs Szelecsényi
Since 2012, at every Sziget Festival, Hello Wood has built a stage which draws inspiration from ancient amphitheaters: the Colosseum. They do this using an uncommon building material, pallets, that can be reused after the festival. The now-iconic architecture, whose design is both sustainable and goes beyond that of a
lifestyle
Czech beer spa traditions introduced in Belgium
Beer spas are a popular concept witnessed in the Czech Republic, merging the relaxation of a spa treatment with the comfort of a draught beer. Now, they introduce this experience in Belguim, as well.
As well as the Czech Republic, Belgium is also famous for its beer brewing tradition, with
The Soviet-era buildings of Chișinău | TOP5
Moldova was part of the Soviet Union between 1940 and 1991, so it’s no surprise that the country’s capital, Chișinău, is often home to the zigzagging and curving, angular and rounded ferroconcrete architectural monuments of Eastern European communism, which stand out from the greenery like timeless relics of
Kimchi factory to open in Poland
Daesang Corporation, the world’s largest kimchi manufacturer, has chosen Poland as the location for its first European factory.
South Korean company Daseang is investing $11 million in the development of the Krakow facility, and will work with a Polish company specializing in fermented foods. They will be able to
Ukrainian art projection covers monumental Chicago building
Every night between the 10th and 17th of November, the Kyiv-based studio PHOTINUS will project its light and sound installation using a monumental building as a canvas, as part of the Art on the Mart project in Chicago.
Before the war, PHOTINUS Studio was featured in several art festivals, including
Warsaw among the top 10 vegan-friendly cities again in 2022
Warsaw has once again been listed as one of the ten most vegan-friendly cities in the world by HappyCow, in a report ranking the world’s plant-based restaurants.
Warsaw has snatched the 9th place in the ranking, published since 2019, behind London, Berlin, New York, Melbourne, Singapore, Los Angeles, Bangkok,
Summer moments in Ana Popescu’s pictures
The works of Romanian-born French artist Ana Popescu, now on show at the Sous-Bois Café in Vienna, depict scenes of summer holidays.
The artist describes Les Vacances as a visual diary of her summer travels: sunlit buildings, sunbathing tourists, and endless blue skies. According to Popescu, the images are an
A chair is what you use as a chair | Interview with Anna Zsoldos
Chair Pairs, the exhibition of the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest presents the interplay between the objects from the institution’s collection, the knowledge about them, and the expressive possibilities of contemporary design. How was the exhibition created? What can become a chair? What is a chair and how far
Museum dedicated to a Polish war hero opens its gates
The museum was opened in Ostrów Mazowiecka, 100 kilometers from Warsaw. The building was designed by the Polish architectural firm BDR Architekci.
Witold Pilecki (1901-1948) was a Polish cavalry officer who founded the first secret organization in occupied Poland during the Second World War, the Secret Polish Army, deliberately had
Estonian company launches next-generation autonomous shuttle
The autonomous vehicle, MiCa, developed by Estonian company Auve Tech, is equipped with seven laser-based remote sensors and ten cameras, and can be used in a wide range of weather conditions.
Auve Tech has already signed an agreement with SoftBank subsidiary Boldly to develop a model of the vehicle for
lifestyle
Memories and images—portraits of Eastern European artists at the Verzió Film Festival
The 19th Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival will once again feature a number of poignant and inspiring stories. We now recommend four films that present major Eastern European artists.
Fragile Memory
Leonid Burlaka was a renowned Soviet cinematographer working at the Odessa Film Studios and on films such
lifestyle
Ionic columns and disco lights in Andreas Angelidakis’ exhibition
Ancient Greek culture meets contemporary techniques in a solo show by Greek artist Andreas Angelidakis in the underground dome of Espace Niemeyer, one of Paris’ most iconic buildings.
Focusing on a critical evaluation of antiquity, the exhibition explores how Greek culture and archaeology are perceived and consumed by contemporary society
3D-printed tram stop in Prague
An interdisciplinary team at So Concrete in Prague has created the first tram stop in the Czech Republic using robotic 3D printing technology.
The new Výstaviště tram stop in Prague is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. The ABB robot took 36 hours to print out the
Colorful Renaissance cocklestove tiles found in Poland
Renaissance tiles have been unearthed at the site of a ruined castle in Żelechów, eastern Poland.
The enamelled ceramic pieces come from a heater and show various plant and animal patterns, human figures and coats of arms. “The next step of the research is to try to reconstruct the stove
lifestyle
The rhythm of Eastern Europe is in Budapest again
For the seventh year running, the Budapest Showcase Hub will bring the latest and most exciting Eastern European performers to Budapest between 19 and 21 October.
In the daytime, you can attend discussions of music experts at the Fészek Artists’ Club, while in the evening, you can dance to the
budapest
Asterisk*—the intersection of art, craft, and gastronomy | Interview with Ágnes Fazakas
Asterisk, The live in Gallery, an art gallery, bistro, and bar, has recently opened in downtown Budapest. Visitors will definitely be charmed by the unique design, the original solutions, and, of course, the artwork. Where did the idea come from? What pieces of art is the interior based around? What
east
You can be at war with everyone, but not with your chef | Interview with Witold Szabłowski
The book How to Feed A Dictator, which has now been published in Hungarian, features the chefs of five famous 20th-century dictators (Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Enver Hoxha, Fidel Castro, and Pol Pot). What do the chefs of dictators from distant countries have in common? How was self-criticism practiced in
graffiti
The contours of time | GRAFFITI, an album by László Lugo Lugosi
Short messages, unusual typography, amorphous figures, and boundless imagination—that’s graffiti, or “urban folk art” as photographer László Lugo Lugosi called it. GRAFFITI. Read the Signs is a posthumous album of one of the last series of photographs by this important figure of Hungarian photography.
“Essentially, I want to
art
In and out of focus—photos of the Hungarian edgelands
Who and how do people live in areas far from the cities? Photographers Marcell Piti and Dániel Halász focused their eyes and cameras on landscapes far from the centers and out of focus: they documented the locales, people, and objects of the edgelands. Now we can take a look at
budapest
Shades of the grotesque—this is how a Dutch photographer saw Budapest in the ’80s
Men clinging to window grates and crawling on sidewalks, broken cars and bent lampposts, twisted postures, and surreal situations. Photographs of the Dutch Hans van der Meer of Budapest in the 1980s, some of which have never been seen before, have now returned to the Hungarian capital.
Hans van der