Josef Svoboda is considered one of the most important stage designers of the 20th century. His name and working techniques are generally well known in the theatre world.
The influence of Josef Svoboda’s scenographic works are not only present in most of the shows we see today, but also in other forms of spatial relationships such as exhibition designs, event designs or other works of plastic art. He fundamentally influenced the theatre of his time with his new approach to scenography and his technical innovations. The mark left behind is still evident to this day.
The #Svobodays aim to be a specialised conference, as part of the commemoration of the centenary of his birth, which will help to deepen and disseminate the artistic and technical legacy of the Czech master.
IED-Madrid opens its doors to the academic, artistic and professional community in the Performing Arts to attend free of charge to this series of lectures offered by collaborators, scholars and artists specialized in the work of Josef Svoboda.
Ángel Martínez Roger will offer his personal experience of the design process and preparation of the last monographic exhibition of the Czech artist in our country.
Christine Richier, lighting designer and teacher at ENSATT who worked with Josef Svoboda from 1986 to 1996, will share various aspects of her doctoral thesis Josef Svoboda, poète de l’immatériel recently presented at the Université Lumière Lyon 2.
On the other hand, the Czech set designer Martin Ondruš will give a visual presentation of the details of Svoboda’s opera productions, with a special focus on the production of Tristan und Isolde, which is at the heart of the research that has been carried out for years in the Academy of Performing Arts Brno JAMU (Czech Republic) with more than 300 images. Ondruš, on the other hand, is part of the team of curators preparing the macro-exhibition that will be inaugurated next year in the Czech Republic.
This activity has been an initiative of the Superior School of Dramatic Art of Seville and the Istituto Europeo di Design, with the collaboration of the Czech Center (Embassy of the Czech Republic in Madrid), RESAD – Royal School of Dramatic Art of Madrid, ENSATT – École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre, and JAMU – Academy of Performing Arts in Brno. It also has the support of the professional associations of our country: AAPEE – Association of Plastic Artists of Spain, AAI – Association of Lighting Authors and OISTAT-Spain (International Organization of Scenographers, Technicians and Theatre Architects).
The invited faculty will have, in turn, closed working sessions with teachers from RESAD ( on 12.12.2019) and ESAD-Sevilla (from 16.12.2019) in relation to the centenary of Josef Svoboda.
Summary of the event:
– What?: #Svobodays : Days in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of the scenographer Josef Svoboda
– Where? IED-Madrid in c/ Flor Alta, 8
– When? Wednesday 11.12.2019 from 19:00 h.
– How much? Free admission until full capacity is reached.
