Barbora Klímová's Manifesta 7 Project Reenacts Czech Performance Art in Public Space

Barbora Klímová presented her project REPLACED-BRNO-2006 at Manifesta 7 in 2009, reenacting five Czechoslovak performances from the 1970s and 1980s. The Czech artist selected works originally conducted in public spaces, focusing on subtle gestures rather than theatrical acts. Klímová interviewed most original artists, including Karel Miler, Jiří Kovanda, Vladimír Havlík, and Petr Štembera, exploring their experiences under Communist rule. Her research revealed that cultural events during that era were organized secretly, often in cellars, attics, or state institutions like the National Gallery. Performances frequently avoided interaction with random passersby, with some artists specifically inviting informed spectators. Klímová noted the absence of female performers from that period, forcing her to work exclusively with male protagonists. The project examined how public space transformed from Communist-era restrictions to post-1989 commercial saturation. Klímová's reenactments in contemporary Brno sometimes elicited indifference, with one performance mistaken for a medical emergency. She studied at Brno's Faculty of Fine Arts and later at HISK in Antwerp, shifting from architectural interests to performance art's social potential. The artist received the Tranzit Award in 2007 and the Jindřich Chalupecký Prize. Interviewer Adam Budak curated Manifesta 7 and serves as a curator at Kunsthaus Graz.