Artists Crossing the Line 11. 5. 2020 – 28. 2. 2021

Four underground stations (Florenc B, Náměstí Republiky, Můstek A, Karlovo náměstí) are fitted with vacant panels formerly used for advertising (on the walls above the rails), which will become canvases for this year’s art project. We want to install contemporary art in the underground stations, to start a discussion on the role of art in the urban space. Most of the artworks are included in the collections of the Prague City Gallery, and communicate in a mutual art dialogue. The works will be fitted with captions, explaining the intentions of the authors to the general public.

The Prague Public Transit Company decided to support the short-term exhibitions in the underground, as a tool to improve the environment used by up to a million of passengers every day. There are dozens of worthy artworks installed in the Prague underground since the very beginning of its operations. Mosaics, sculptures, objects or light installations have been part of the experience since the underground’s first days in 1974. In past years, many were damaged, or even removed entirely. The unique environment of the Prague underground has featured works of internationally famous artists, such as Stanislav Kolíbal, Václav Cigler, the duo Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, František Vízner and many others.

The exhibition “Art Behind the Line” presents a selection of unique artworks by competent artist, such as Jiří Kovanda, Markéta Othová, Krištof Kintera, Timo, Lucia Sceranková, Ondřej Přibyl or the couples Lukáš Jasanský – Martin Polák and Hynek Alt – Aleksandra Vajd.

The photographs documenting their projects can be seen from May till the end of 2020 on the panels above the rails in the stations Náměstí Republiky B, Florenc B, Můstek A and Karlovo náměstí B. The selection of stations is based on the fact that the wall claddings have been already fitted with vacant advertising panels; before they are finally removed, they will become canvases for this art project. This also gave this unusual exhibition its name – the artworks are installed behind the safety line that runs along the platform. However, this line should not become a barrier between the passengers and the artworks. Therefore, the presentation also features captions related to the artworks. There will also be guided tours that will present the artworks to the public, together with the history and architecture of the stations.