About the inscenation
Join us on a journey into history! The enchanting exhibition Blue Flower at the Hybernia Theatre will take you back to important milestones in historical Prague and especially to the U Hybernů house, where the theater is located. A unique exhibition that will engage all your senses and draw you into the whirlwind of events!
Become pilgrims against the flow of time. With the help of modern technology, you will be part of the action. You will experience the medieval flood, the plague epidemic, the Thirty Years’ War and other events that shaped the form of Prague. Thanks to animations you will experience the connection of all your senses with history and uncover the veil of mystical Prague.
The audiovisual exhibition “Blue Flower” directed by artist Maria Krajplová brings a unique combination of historical artifacts, Christian symbolism and animation. You will experience an incredible spectacle.
The colour in the title of the exhibition refers to spiritual symbolism. Blue has always been the colour of purity and innocence, which is why the Virgin Mary is most often depicted in it. It is also the colour of reflection (contemplation) and rest (relaxation), which is why the whole exhibition is in blue shades.
The author has obtained a large number of contemporary documents and materials for the exhibition at auctions. What takes a few seconds in the videos is the result of hundreds of hours of work. It is a combination of all the footage that has been collected or created and its transformation into emotive images that each viewer will perceive differently. It is not about historical facts, but about processing them in such a way that the fantasy, sometimes even mystical atmosphere of the whole project is conveyed to the viewer.
“The Blue Flower exhibition refers to the history of the monastery that stood on the site of today’s Hybernia Theatre, but we have only written evidence of its existence. The original 14th century monastery of St. Ambrose, which was destroyed during the Hussite Wars, was donated in 1629 by Ferdinand II to the Franciscan Order of Ireland. Thanks to generous patronage, they were able to buy the surrounding houses and in 1637 they started building a new monastery and the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary according to the plan of the architect Carlo Lurag. It is important for me to convey to the viewer through art the unique atmosphere of this place where the history of Prague was made and in whose architecture important historical stages of the Czech nation were imprinted,” says the author Marie Krajplová about her work with historical sources for the exhibition.
Information for visitors:
The exhibition is accompanied by a guide who will introduce you to the history of the U Hybernů building and guide you through the exhibition. The tour also includes a short tour of the theatre ending on the roof terrace from where you can see an incredible view of Prague, such as Prague Castle, the Municipal House, Na Příkopě Street, Letná, Vítkov and other important Prague places.
The exhibition is located in the foyer of the Hybernia Theatre and has different opening hours every day. Opening hours are listed for each day separately on the theatre’s website. However, we recommend visiting the exhibition at least 30 minutes before the end of opening hours for the maximum experience.
The exhibition uses intense lighting effects and aromatic elements. Persons with sensitivity to these stimuli are encouraged to consider attending this exhibition.
The project is realized with the financial support of the City of Prague. Prague