1924–1974–2024: Prague Fair Palace

To mark two significant anniversaries – 100 years since the competition call for the construction of the Prague Fair Palace and 50 years since the devastating fire of 1974 – the National Gallery is showcasing the history of the building through a public exhibition installed in the Korzo space, adjacent to the piazza in front of the palace. The exhibition explores the building’s history and its transformation over the decades. These changes are visually documented in iconic perspectives such as the exterior view from Heřmanova Street, the central views of the Great Hall and the Small Hall. The selected motifs highlight the activities of the Prague Trade Fairs during the interwar period, the post-war folk decor of the 52nd and final fair in 1951, and the period of administrative use of the palace by various Foreign Trade Companies. The 1974 fire stands as a momentous visual milestone, initiating the comprehensive reconstruction of the building in order to accommodate the needs of the National Gallery, completed in 1995. Key photographs are accompanied by brief captions to provide historical context. A typographic collage of logos evokes the palace’s lively trading and business activities.

Venue: installation in the windows of the Trade Fair Palace