Edith Jeřábková Discusses Curatorial Approach and Challenges at Prague Biennale 4

Edith Jeřábková, a curator at the Klatovy/Klenová Museum in Plzeň, co-curated the Czech section titled "White Paper, Black Bride" for Prague Biennale 4 with Jiří Kovanda, emphasizing abstract and conceptual elements. They selected artists, including older figures from the 1980s, to represent Czech art, focusing on minimalist reduction through a black-and-white theme. The curators had total freedom but faced budget constraints, working directly with Prague-based artists to produce site-specific works. Jeřábková noted the biennale's smaller scale compared to others, viewing it as a platform for younger curators and international art in the Czech Republic, despite criticism of its quality. She highlighted the raw, decaying venue as an asset, preferring to hang works on bare walls rather than artificial panels. The interview, conducted on June 5, 2009, also touched on the biennale's history, mentioning past conflicts between organizers like Helena Kontová, Giancarlo Politi of Flash Art, and Milan Knížák of the National Gallery, which led to two competing events. Jeřábková expressed disappointment in the current edition's lack of conceptual focus but stressed the importance of such events given the National Gallery's perceived paralysis.