Art travel: A trend and a lifestyle

Kristýna traces the roots of her love for art back to the days she lived in London and visited local galleries in her spare time. After returning to the Czech Republic, she began to explore the local art scene more thoroughly thanks to EduArt programmes and eventually discovered the main European art fairs, which enchanted her with their atmosphere. For Kristýna, these trips have become an integral part of her otherwise busy itinerary for the third year in a row. How does she look back on her experiences and what drives her to carry on her journey with EduArt?

It would seem that the Czech land cannot bear comparison with the European Mecca of art, which London undoubtedly is – yet the opposite is true. “We have so many amazing venues here that I had no idea about! The castle in Jirny near Prague harbours one of the most extensive private art collections, and the owner, Mrs Lettenmayer, gave us a personal tour. At the castle in Bechyně, Nicole Šťáva and I had the opportunity to see the sculpture park with works by artists such as Chen Zhen, the duo Ornaghi & Prestinari, and Krištof Kintera,” reports Kristýna. Uncovering these “treasures” becomes all the more appealing when, thanks to EduArt partners, you can also get to places inaccessible to the average gallery or institution visitor. Like other participants, Kristýna especially appreciates the opportunity to meet the owners of similar important collections, curators, gallerists, and artists themselves.

“I was really delighted by the galleries in Humpolec, Pardubice, and Kutná Hora, and I also brought back great experiences from Olomouc and Ostrava. If I were to highlight one of my Czech trips, it would probably be the two weekend stays – in Hluboká and at the castle in Třebešice,” Kristýna recalls with a smile. “Thanks to the contributions of artists, every room at Chateau Třebešice is unique and literally every corner of the interior and garden is covered with art, which completely enchanted me. Moreover, we had the chateau all to ourselves and enjoyed a multi-course dinner in one of the lounges. What Kristýna appreciates most are the inspiring conversations and new bonds they formed. “Thanks to the EduArt Roadshow I have gained valuable information, the most stimulating for me are the discussions with the artists and participants. Over the course of the year we got to know each other on a deeper level and I dare say we made some great friendships.”

A different experience to visiting a gallery or a private collection is that offered by the world’s greatest fairs. The founder of EduArt Experience, Barbora Půlpánová, brings to the project her experience and connections from her work at the prestigious Christie’s auction house in London. Participants of the trips enjoy exclusive VIP access to these events as well as top-class guides, providing a vastly more valuable experience than visiting these places on one’s own. “Art Basel was my first visit to an art fair and I must admit I was really impressed. After a while, the enthusiasm was replaced by a slight frustration at the impossibility of covering everything in two days, but after a few glasses of Chablis you don’t worry so much about it, which the other tour participants would surely confirm,” laughs Kristýna.

Another world fair Kristýna reflected on was the London Frieze Art Fair. Here, too, a small group of collectors enjoyed an insider guide who helped them navigate the large volume of art. In this case it was Nico Epstein, art advisor and exclusive consultant for Frieze. “Nico firstly introduced us to the best works we saw at the fair and put them into context in their beautiful showroom in Mayfair. It was extremely rewarding and effective at the same time.”
Besides the fair, the art trips offer a range of other activities. In London, for example, the participants visited an auction at Christie’s, the openings of well-known galleries such as David Zwirner, Pace, and Gagosian, and an exhibition at the National Gallery. “We also visited the London studio of the Czech artist Hynek Martinec. It was great to see the place he works and the way he thinks about his work,” she concludes.

Kristýna’s list of experiences continues with plans for the future: “This year we are going to visit South Moravia, Bratislava, and Trutnov. I hope to make it to Italy for the Artissima fair in Turin and I am also considering a winter trip to Art Basel Miami.”