Kunsthalle Praha exhibition explores global bohemianism through photography and art

Kunsthalle Praha in Prague presents 'Bohemia: History of an Idea, 1950–2000,' an exhibition curated by Russell Ferguson that examines bohemian culture across multiple cities. The show juxtaposes Western scenes like 1950s Paris, 1960s New York, and Swinging London with lesser-known locales including Tehran, Prague, and Zagreb. Photographic works dominate, featuring Ed van der Elsken's Parisian lovers, Rudy Burckhardt's images of Willem de Kooning, Fred W. McDarrah's shots of Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, and David Bailey's portraits of Mick Jagger. The exhibition contrasts romanticized Western bohemianism with marginalized scenes from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Bijan Saffari's drawings reveal gay life in Tehran around the Iranian Revolution, while Libuše Jarcovjáková documents Prague's underground lesbian bars. Tomislav Gotovac's performance photographs capture Zagreb's streets, and Wolfgang Tillmans's 'wake' (2001) hints at bohemia's decline. The show runs through October 16, organized across two floors with a basement focusing on Western 'aching chic' and a first floor highlighting peripheral locations.