Kateřina Šedá Offers “Normal Life” in Český Krumlov as a Full-Time Job
Through the fictional company UNES-CO, Kateřina Šedá is offering paid positions to “citizens of Český Krumlov” with the job description of carrying out “a normal life.” “Employees” will be compensated with wages for a three-month stay in a company apartment in the center of town and will perform everyday activities such as airing out pillows in windows, playing football in the street or taking a walk with a stroller. With this performance, Kateřina Šedá is drawing attention to the issue of tourist cities where residents have abandoned the centers and have moved to the edge of towns.
Houses where no one lives. Stores no one needs. Streets where people don’t meet, and avoid each other. This could be characteristic of socially excluded places, but is also occurring in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, one inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Kateřina Šedá’s project won a competition organised by the National Gallery in Prague. The Czech-Slovak pavilion at the 16th International Biennale of Architecture in Venice 2018 will be turned into the headquarters of the UNES-CO company. At the “company’s” reception area, a catalog offering “normal activities” will be available for browsing, and live broadcasts of “normal life” in Český Krumlov will be available for viewing inside the pavilion.
Český Krumlov is the first city on the UNES-CO company’s list, which is financially supporting the project and actively taking part in improving the situation. The project was created with the support of The Pudil Family Foundation. The headquarters of the UNES-CO company can be visited in the Czech-Slovak Pavilion at the 16th International Biennale of Architecture in Venice from 26 May to 25 November 2018.
The Pudil Family Foundation is an open non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of Czech and international modern and contemporary art through the realization of innovative exhibitions, research and educational projects.
For more information regarding the Foundation and our projects, visit www.pudilfamilyfoundation.org.