Max L. FeldmanReviews16 November 2023ArtReview
Endlessly Inside at Broumov Monastery presents 60 often achingly meticulous works by Guernsey-born concrete-poetry pioneer
the second exhibition in the ‘Ora et Lege’ (‘Pray and Read’) series of exhibitions at the Baroque Broumov Monastery on the Czech-Polish border
presents 60 often achingly meticulous works by Guernsey-born concrete-poetry pioneer Dom Sylvester Houédard
who entered a Benedictine abbey aged twenty-five
perhaps surprisingly became active in London’s 1960s countercultural scene
and the producer of what he called ‘typestracts’
a portmanteau of ‘typewriter’ and ‘abstract’
refers to object-poems made on an Olivetti 22 typewriter using black
ostensibly demonstrate the meaning of Mahayana Buddhist and Shiva and Vajrayana Tantra doctrines (among others) via rigid architectonic diagrams
renders the cosmic significance of human intimacy as long cuboids laid over one another in a hashtag shape
while the nine layered universe of the pawnee (1967) presents a tiered cosmology influenced by both Tantra and shamanism: the celestial pole that holds everything in existence together rendered as short ink lines passing through nine closely connected square slices
which curator Monika Čejkova splits into three sections
displayed on a wall towards the back of the monastery’s refectory
shows typestracts that correlate Catholicism and various Eastern religions
or pay tribute to artists Houédard knew or loved
like 250766 (For Raoul Hausmann 65) (1966) and memorial for marcel duchamp (1968)
The second section comprises ‘laminate poems’ and ‘cosmic dust poems’ (1966–68)
polygonal speculative sculptures made from strips of various materials – mostly newspaper cuttings and PVC – sealed in transparent
upstairs in the vast and magnificent library
all designed with crisp sans serif typefaces
and correspondence from 1964–80 displayed in a glass-topped cabinet
While works like yantra of sex and the nine layered universe… are by no means straightforward
viewers can interpret them if they know a little about what the titles refer to
Making sense of the visualisations of ancient teachings of inner blue womb and homage to Bodhidharma the roly-poly daruma (both 1967) in the first section
depends on Nicola Simpson’s persuasive catalogue text
The strict abstract shapes of inner blue womb look like a four-pronged fanlike structure made of half-circles on a flat scored plane
but apparently show us a uterine existence
the human mind pregnant with the possibility of everything that could ever exist
including both things present in physical space and colourful mental inventions
explains a sixth-century text by Zen Buddhist monk Bodhidharma
distinguishing between methods of reaching the enlightened realisation that all things are of the same nature: ‘entrance by reason’ (higher intuition) and ‘entrance by conduct’ (correct actions)
the infinite and the inner in a way applicable to those without belief: how to always stay open to others
Living out the Benedictine spirit of ‘prayer and work’ by expanding into art the order’s three-step Benedictine practice of ‘holy reading’ – reading aloud
a second reading to deepen the understanding
and then prayer – Houédard’s art generously ‘reads’ other religions and practices in a swelling embrace of the farthest reaches of humanity and divinity
Endlessly Inside at Broumov Monastery, 25 June – 24 September
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and other items have been recreated as replicas
The lighting and other essential technical items have been designed to minimally interfere with the overall look of the interior
Complemented by the wooden oak tables the wall panelling and seating furniture feature a neutral light grey colour
sparsely furnished vaulted spaces bring the experience of tasting the traditional local menu to the next level
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A world map that has been making the rounds on social media recently features the oldest companies still in operation for most countries across the globe
The nature of the Czech Republic’s longest-surviving company will surprise few familiar with the Czech lands
and has been brewing in the Czech town of Olivětín
the brewery was located inside a Benedictine Monastery that burned down multiple times over the course of its history
the church moved the brewery to a separate site where it still stands to this day
The brewery is best known for their Olivětínský Opat beer; it might be an unfamiliar view for Praguers do to the competitive Czech beer market
you can also sample Broumov’s Olivětínský Opat on tap at Restaurant u Opata in Pardubice
(Click for larger image)
The Czech Republic isn’t the only European country on the map to feature a brewery as its oldest company
and Serbia all claim a brewery as their oldest company still in operation
though you won’t see many countries outside of Europe that list a brewery as their longest-surviving business
banking institutions The Royal Mint and The Bank of Scotland are the country’s oldest companies; the same is true of Czech neighbor Slovakia
where the Kremnica Mint is the longest-surviving company
The oldest business in the world still in operation is Japan’s Kongō Gumi
a construction company that dates back all the way to the year 578
which was founded in 1614 – and used slave labor for much of its history
Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English.
programencz202327/0419:00talk showCamping with Ondřej Cihlář: České Budějovice × BroumovWhich city will be the European Capital of Culture in 2028
the title will once again go to a Czech city
The final candidates are České Budějovice and Broumov
Ondřej Cihlář will ask representatives from both cities
he invited the creative director of the České Budějovice candidacy
and the coordinator of the Broumov candidacy
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