Doors Open

Oct 19-21, 2021, Prague

For many years the New Liběn synagogue at Palmovka was a central hub for the Jewish community in Liběn. Not only was it important from a religious perspective, but also served as a meeting point for the whole community. Today Palmovka is a crossroads- for travel, social interaction, cultural interchange.

Doors Open is an attempt to bring back to life a community that is long gone. Five open doors, located in the park in front of the synagogue, represent gates to the past. Inside, people living at the beginning of the 20th century go about their everyday lives- visualized thanks to archival film footage. These figures from the past will mingle with the present-day inhabitants of Prague. The past and the present are connected in order to reflect on the contemporary meaning of “community”, its current state, and its possible potential.

This installation uses archival film footage from the 1920s and 1930s in Prague, sourced from the National Film Archive (nfa.cz)

Authors: Kristyna Balaban and Adam Široký
Sound: Kryštof Koenigsmark

Organized by: spolky Krajinou přílivu, 8jinak! a Sdružení Serpens
With support from: Národního filmového archivu, Dilia, Agosto Foundation, Hlavního města Prahy, Ministerstva kultury ČR, Státního fondu kultury ČR a MČ Prahy 8

The New Liběn synagogue at night, a banner reading “Dveře otevřeny” beside the lit doors on the lawn.

A woman holding a small child, both watching the projections between the open doors.

Silhouettes of two visitors with hands raised against a snowy scene projected in a doorway.

Detail of the weathered handle of one of the doors, the projection glowing behind it.

The synagogue under dramatic night clouds, the doors lit on the lawn in front of it.

The row of doors seen across the park, visitors passing in silhouette.

Visitors gathered on the street beside the installation.

The illuminated credits panel reading “Dveře otevřeny, 19.-21.10.2021”.

One of the doors being wheeled away on a trolley at the end of the night.

All work