During the preparations for the 5th annual Landscape Festival, we often encountered the question: “What is this [ˈlændskeɪp] ?” The question aims at the very essence of the entire project. Landscape is the central theme of the Festival which, after four previous years in Opava and Prague’s Žižkov Freight Railway Station, turns its attention to the scenery of the City of Pilsen – the 2015 European Capital of Culture.

From May to September, the landscape and public space of this West Bohemian metropolis will be the platform for a public dialogue on the possibilities of the perception of our surroundings. Once again, the Festival will present many inspiring exhibitions with examples of high-quality Czech as well as foreign landscape creations. However, it is especially the site-specific installations by Czech and foreign artists and architects, which trigger a discussion on the future development and work potential in a modern and well-functioning city. In addition, debates, lectures, conferences and workshops on Festival themes will be held within the accompanying programme.

Pilsen landscape presents several motifs presented in the Festival. It is a landscape of the historical city centre with the question of the use of greenery. The industrial landscape is a reminder of the industrial development of the city (e.g. premises of DEPO2015 complex, Papírna Plzeň paper mill and Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery). The Festival has also entered the realm of hospitals, in the form of student interventions, where it introduces the theme of semi-public space and its sensitive atmosphere. During the summer months, the recreational landscape, which is literally a stone’s throw from the City of Pilsen, will be the focus of the Festival.

Hana Boříková
Festival Coordinator