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Elmgreen & Dragset Transform Prague Kunsthalle into a Library

exhibition · 2026-04-27

The exhibition 'Read' by Elmgreen & Dragset at Kunsthalle Praha creatively reinterprets libraries, representing the inaugural use of the venue's permanent collection for a temporary display. It opens with Giorgio de Chirico's 1916 artwork 'Les jouets défendus,' which depicts books as geometric shapes. The initial section resembles a library, showcasing upside-down books and various artworks to encourage contemplation on knowledge. The following section features discussions with guest artists, including 'Fruit of Knowledge,' a life-sized monkey installation that critiques digitalization. Notable invited artists are Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and Meriç Algün. This exhibition is on view until April 22, 2024, at Kunsthalle Praha, located at Klárov 5, Malá Strana.

Key facts

  • Elmgreen & Dragset's first major exhibition in the Czech Republic
  • Exhibition titled 'Read' at Kunsthalle Praha
  • First time Kunsthalle Praha uses permanent collection for a temporary project
  • Starting point: Giorgio de Chirico's 1916 painting 'Les jouets défendus'
  • First section reproduces a library with upside-down books and hidden titles
  • Installation 'Fruit of Knowledge' features a monkey on books reaching for a golden banana
  • Invited artists include Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and Meriç Algün
  • Exhibition runs until April 22, 2024

Entities

Artists

  • Elmgreen & Dragset
  • Giorgio de Chirico
  • Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster
  • Meriç Algün
  • Niccolò Lucarelli

Institutions

  • Kunsthalle Praha
  • Fluxus
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Prague
  • Czech Republic
  • Klárov 5, Malá Strana
  • United States

Sources