Gothic Prague

I created this project to depict Prague as a Gothic city with history and its rich past, as it might have looked in the times long gone. I chose to portray my city in sepia colours as they evoked the spirit of the place much more profoundly. Each place is unique and has its charm, the lights give it the final sense of presence. 

Marilyn Monroe exhibition

Yesterday, on the 6th of July, I went to see a long anticipated exhibition devoted to Marilyn Monroe. I have been planning to go for several months but then felt slightly put off when the news came that part of the displays have been stolen on a way to Prague. I´m sure they stole those items that were of the most value. Nevertheless, I decided to visit it and see for myself. 
It took place in Jízdárna Pražského Hradu, just near the Prague Castle. What I noticed first was the sorrowful, melancholically sweet music that flowed through the air as I walked along the walls covered with pinned up posters, photos and personally handwritten letters of hers. I saw what seemed to be loose pages of her private diary, sometimes they were taken from one source, at other times it appeared as if they had no connection whatsoever. Just single pages torn from a book. I noticed the handwriting was rather erratic, changing its course many times, the width and the direction of letters, all that in one single random page. 
She scribbled her thoughts uncomprehending that the world will read them one day. I was thinking, what if I become famous? Maybe I ought to write in less chaotic way, so that the future readers have at least a notion that I was normal. 
A sort of sad emotion followed me throughout the whole place, a heavy sweet sadness that lingered all around as I watched her shoes by Ferragama, her coats and gowns that she once wore in Prince and the Dancer or Some like it hot and many others. I could watch short videos from various times...Marilyn giving an interview, Marilyn dancing and acting....Marilyn singing for President Kennedy....and I could hear her joyous laughter that rang like pearls falling down on the ground. I imagined what it felt to stand next right to her, her build so small and tender. I always thought she was plump, but when looking at all her gowns, her waist was like that of a wasp. Small shoulders, tiny figure altogether. I wish I would fit in one of those. 
I extremely loved the gowns she wore. They were on the pompous side, but oh gosh, the material, the style. I loved the one with heavy black fur around her shoulders or the dress that had this funny giant bow on the hip. When inspecting her shoes, I noticed they were extremely worn out. Not the heels, just the leather or suede they were made of. I guess she loved to walk in them to some extent. 
There were also many photographs of her by Cecil Beaton (they were the best!), Stern, Barris, Greene and De Dienes. 
To me, Marilyn wasn´t just an icon of her era. She was a human being, a vulnerable at that, and yet she had the strenght to face the world. I admire her for what she was, underneath all those pompous and frivolous faces she has been wearing. Inside there, she was a beautiful and determined woman that only longed for love, as we all are. 

The famous dress she sang her "Happy birthday dear President" to Jack Kennedy

Some of the famous movie costumes

Black dress from Some like it hot and others...

Marilyn´s diaries and private thoughts

only an expert could decipher one of these....

she was awesomely beautiful 

Fragrant....

Luscious.....

Innocent....

Vulnerable....

Spirited......

Joyous.......

Strict......

Charming.....

Lost.....

Playfull.....

Sensual.....

Pretentious....

Pompous.....

Natural.....

Serious.....

and Wicked......

Seeing Lorna Byrne

It was just a week ago that I noticed that Lorna Byrne, the Irish writer, is coming for the book signing in Prague. I have noticed her book in Ireland. It was displayed in the bookstore on the left back shelf and it went through my hands so many times. I always wanted to buy it, once I was even at the cash register already clutching it, but then something made me change my mind. I guess I wasn´t just ready. My relationship and my everyday survival were so tough, that to be dealing with anything spiritual and subtle as this might go unnoticed and become fruitless. But this time, I was sure I have to go and get the book. My sister bought it for my birthday the very same day as Lorna held the signing and I rushed all way back from work to get hold of it, then rushed back to the bookstore. 
The queue was as nearly as enourmous as the one that waited for Madeleine. And it was damn cold outside too, but I decided to wait anyway. I even befriended two awesome ladies and we chatted and laughed together for hours non stop. I guess we were just meant for each other´s company. 
To see Lorna was quite peculiar. She looked so tiny and vulnerable, yet the power of her positive energy nearly knocked me over. I could tell from the distance she was an incredible, amazing, strong lady. It shone right through her and you didn´t need angels around her to assure you that she was one of them. I gave her my book to sign in, and when I said Hello how are you, she looked up at me, and searched deep inside my eyes. There was this little moment as if we recognized each other, such a remarkable glimpse of some inner understanding from some other plane perhaps, and when she said God bless you, I was nearly in heaven. I´m not sure why did it matter to me so much, but everyone there seemed to be lovingly transfixed to this woman, everyone around me watched her as if they saw an apparition of an angel himself. The atmosphere was nice, loving and tranquil. If I could I would have asked her so many things, and mainly, if she could see my guardian angel Seraphiel. I bet he must have looked awesome that night, flashing his wings and all :) 
Anyway, I felt lifted and happy, that I´ve met Lorna for this brief moment in time. maybe our souls will meet again, who knows....

 

was standing in this queue nearly two hours

Prince Edward´s visit

On the 14th of March 2013 we have received, as a school, a Royal visit. Prince Edward has arrived for a Duke of Edinburgh competition. The preparations were all quite hectic as there were strict security measures concerning his arrival.
He was due to come at around twelve o´clock and walk through our school together with giving a final speech in the auditorium, which was only for the chosen selection of people, mainly children, teachers and journalists. I saw him when he arrived and the kids happily cheered him and waved their British flags and I also had a chance to watch him closely from several metres while he stopped to talk to few students in the hallway corridor. He seemed very pleasant and well mannered, even deeply interested in the social work of our students and encouraging them to do such work further. He was like a nice chap from the next door almost, to whom you could talk to about weather if you liked to. He strikingly resembled Prince Charles, eventhough he lacked his hair. But other than that his features were all Queen Elisabeth, his dear Mother.
When he was leaving the premises, there were another children that said goodbye to Prince as he approached them for the last time. It was very exquisite experience and I cannot contain how much this short encounter has meant to me. I am very grateful to be present here at that day and be able to see one of the members of the Royal family with my own eyes.

Prince Edward arriving to our school

 

Meeting Karel Schwarzenberg

Yesterday, the 3rd of April, Karel Schwarzenberg held an autograph signing session of his newly released book, dedicated to his 75th birthday. I went there to finally stand face to face to the man, whom I grew fond of in the progress of presidential elections. I would lie if I said I wasn´t nervous, because I was. As hell. I had this little gem heart made for him several months prior, hoping to eventually give it to him. I bought his book and queued patiently, until he made his appearance. There were many people present, including television reporters, actors, singers and writers, all of them acompanying this great man. I made few photographs of himself while he was signing the books. Some people even gave him little presents in the form of flowers and paper clippings inside a book, over which he seemed to express enourmous joy. When I reached him, and while he was signing my book, I passed him the little red box in which I had the gem heart neatly hidden,  with words "Hello Prince, happy birthday to you. This is for all what you´re doing for us". He stopped to ask me again what I just said, as he is slightly hard of hearing, then he opened up the box and rolled the heart in his hand inspecting it closely, then saying...."but this is......" and I stood by and stopped him short "That´s a brooch Sir". Then he said "That´d be fit for some beautiful young lady, not for me, I´ll be hardly wearing that on", and with these words he scanned me to have a look at who he´s talking to. His eyes smiled warmly at me, and I felt unsure wheather he actually liked the gift or did not so much. For a while I thought he might give it back to me, but then he set it aside his desk and thanked me with a smile on his face. I told him that it has been designed specially for him. With that I left the desk and later on collected myself to go home, but watched him carefully if he took the box with him. He certainly did. He carried this huge paper bag with him and there, he kept all the presents he obtained, with them my own. Only after coming home I realized, that I actually congratulated him to birthday that he´s had in December. Oh, what a clown I am, seriously. I just hope he never heard me saying it. But overal it was a pleasant experience and I´m glad I gathered the courage to give him the present and speak to him in public like that.
One more thing before I finish this story. I still believe this man would make an incredible President, as he is the statesman of high qualities and there is none such like him around. I enormously admire his work, good will and  for all he´s been doing for our country in abroad. He deserves the best appraisal of all. He won millions of hearts and the heart I gave him that day was a symbolic way of saying how much he means to all of us. I hope he knows now.