ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Eva Kotátková's exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg explores social breakdown through participatory installations

exhibition · 2026-04-20

Eva Kotátková's exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen runs from 21 September 2019 to 16 February 2020, merging abstract sculpture with psychological themes that address social marginalization. Notable pieces include 'Confessions of the Piping System' (2019), where performers share narratives within a metal framework, and 'Error' (2019), which challenges traditional classifications using cut-out visuals. 'Place for Speaking Out, Place for Making the Private Public' (2018) creates an intimate environment for expressing personal issues, while 'Room for Restoring Empathy' (2019) incorporates materials from a children's workshop to represent coping strategies. The exhibition concludes with 'Dream Machine is Asleep' (2018), enabling visitors to hear children's dreams, symbolizing a sense of helplessness. Kotátková's influences stem from early-twentieth-century avant-garde and Czech Surrealism.

Key facts

  • Eva Kotátková's exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg ran from 21 September 2019 to 16 February 2020
  • The show includes 'Confessions of the Piping System' (2019), a metal grid with placards and performer activations
  • Performers recite stories commissioned or written by Kotátková, focusing on the infirm and disadvantaged
  • 'Error' (2019) features a vitrine with cut-out images and text held by string, questioning classification systems
  • 'Place for Speaking Out, Place for Making the Private Public' (2018) is a vertical cage originally in a public square
  • 'Room for Restoring Empathy' (2019) includes remnants from a children's workshop on emotions and cutting clothing
  • 'Dream Machine is Asleep' (2018) is an oversized bed installation where visitors listen to children's dreams
  • Kotátková's work is influenced by early-twentieth-century avant-garde and postwar Czech Surrealism

Entities

Artists

  • Eva Kotátková

Institutions

  • Kunsthal Charlottenborg
  • ArtReview

Locations

  • Copenhagen
  • Denmark
  • Czechoslovakia

Sources