Renowned photographer to exhibit in St Helens

In collaboration with The Czech Centre in London, St.Helens is to play host to an international  exhibition of photographs taken by Victor Kolar, one of the Czech Republic’s most significant contemporary photographers.

The Victor Kolar exhibition will be hosted by the multi-award winning  World of Glass from 2nd February until 29th March.  It will be  perfectly complemented by a local mining exhibition – “Black Gold” - that will run alongside it from 23rd January until 29th March.  The work of Victor Kolar mainly focuses on his hometown of Ostrava, a Czech Republic town with an industrial and mining heritage that shares many traits with St.Helens.  

Like St.Helens, Ostrava built its fortune on its mining industry and underwent a dramatic social transformation when the industry went into decline.  Depicting Ostrava at various stages throughout its post-industrial transition, the exhibition has been specially curated for St.Helens and features photographs from 1965 – 2004.  Visitors to the exhibition will notice plenty of similarities between the photographic representation of Ostrava and St.Helens as well as other British localities with a mining history.  Meanwhile, the local mining exhibition is sure to stir up memories for all former miners, while also serving as a valuable educational experience for younger generations.

Councillor Wally Ashcroft, St.Helens Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Sport and Heritage, said: “Our impressive industrial and mining heritage gives us a rightful place on the European and world industrial heritage map, making St.Helens somewhere we should all be proud of.  I am delighted that a photographer of Victor Kolar’s calibre has chosen St.Helens to showcase his work.  This highlights the quality and appeal of the Borough’s growing cultural and tourism offer ”.

Ladislav Pflimpfl at the Czech Centre adds; “Victor Kolar is firmly established as part of the rich Czech photographic tradition and one of the greatest Czech living masters.  He exhibits extensively all over the world and teaches international students at the acclaimed Film & Photography School in Prague.  His impressive exhibition is a must-see for anyone who is interested in social change or photography”.

Ends

Press release issued: January 5 2007