Unique portraits of former political prisoners at the Karolinium
- Date: 24 Jan, 2007 at 7:34PM,
In the first half of the year 2006 a Swiss photographer Simon Frey learned by coincidence about the existence of an active organization of the communist regime political prisoners in the Czech Republic.
As he was gathering more and more information on this subject he became fascinated by this topic, he was captivated by the incredible life stories of former political prisoners. He decided to realize a photographic project. At this time h eis finishing the first part of it at home in Switzerland. He intends to continue his project and the exhibition in Karolinum is only a ‚tasting‘.
The first photographs were taken in autumn 2006 in Hořice, Prague and in Hradec Králové. It is a series of large-format photographs (1 square meter) made using digital technology — the technical parameters themselves are worth great attention.
Simon Frey photographs are not about dokument or history, he wants to show the former political prisoners like ones of us. As people who experienced incredible things, though they are humans equal to all of us — in the sense that they are not mere lines in the history books. The jailbirds are our neighbours, they are aminy us. They lived through horrifying things. In spite of that large majority of the mis full energy and joy of life and belief. This is what Simon Frey tries to convey to the others. To pass heir message in a little bit different way.
Words of thanks to those who a lot helped to realize this non-profit project:
- Město Hořice
- Salesiánské Theatre in Prague Kobylisy
- Bishopric in Hradec Králové, Archbishop Otčenášek
Redakce: MK