Gates of the Underground: Sculptors Beránek and Prošek Unveil Mesmerizing Exhibition in Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, is hosting an extraordinary exhibition titled “Gates of the Underground – Touching Space with Transition and Reflection.” Running from July 31 to November 30, 2024, the exhibition features a captivating collection of sculptures by renowned Czech artists Vlastimil Beránek and Jaroslav Prošek.

Visitors will be treated to a unique display of art, as the sculptures—crafted from Bohemian crystal, diamond-coated acrylic, and ancient wood—are showcased within the vast, water-filled expanse of the 6th-century cistern. The reflective waters, covering 10,000 square meters, create an otherworldly atmosphere that enhances the beauty and mystique of the artworks.

Beránek and Prošek are celebrated for their ability to explore the intimate connections between humanity and nature through their sculptures. Their preferred medium, glass, is chosen for its transparency and translucency, which adds an ethereal quality to their works. This material choice perfectly encapsulates the blend of natural and artificial elements that characterize their art, creating a truly magical experience for viewers.

The exhibition, curated by Miroslav Kroupa, owner of the Kroupa Gallery, is drawing significant attention, with an estimated 10,000 daily visitors. The inclusion of artifacts made from 6,500-year-old wood, excavated from northern Czech Republic, further enhances the mystical aura of the exhibition, providing a profound connection between the ancient and the contemporary.

The exhibition is open daily from 9:00 AM to 11:50 PM.

Directions to the Basilica Cistern can be found here:

About the Exhibition

The Basilica Cistern, a valuable historical testament to human craftsmanship, is now paired with contemporary sculptures crafted by renowned Czech masters in the exhibition entitled “Gates of the Underground.” The Istanbul Municipality, the Czech Consulate General, Crystal Caviar, and Subfossil Oak have jointly organized this event, where history meets contemporary art, and monumental space intertwines with elements of ephemeral glass.

The rigidity of the majestic 1,700-year-old underground structure contrasts with the dynamic lines of modern crystal works. These eternal yet fragile forms remind viewers that human history is a delicate thread of coincidences that must be preserved; otherwise, the collective memory will shatter into thousands of shards. As we enjoy events like this, we must acknowledge the Istanbul Municipality’s efforts to preserve historical values by restoring monuments such as the Basilica Cistern, allowing them to serve as priceless witnesses to history and connect the past with contemporary art for millions of visitors every year.

This large-scale exhibition is one of the most extensive Czech sculpture exhibitions in Istanbul to date. “Gates of the Underground” examines our deep connection to the past by immersing us in the landscapes imagined by Vlastimil Beránek and Jaroslav Prošek.

Beránek creates his unique sculptures in his studio in the Czech Republic. His expression of solid foundations encourages everyone to pause, or at least slow down, and appreciate the best feelings within each of us. Beránek is truly a Renaissance personality, excelling as a painter, architect, writer, graphic artist, poet, and designer, with his primary domain remaining sculpture.

His simple forms, executed in materials such as glass, represent the perfectionist tendencies that Beránek contrasts with ancient 6,500-year-old wood in his later work, showcasing the ultimate expression of his post-minimalist approach to this medium. Beránek seeks a unique balance between abstract form, inspired by innermost values, and the irrefutable completeness of his sculptures.

Similar tendencies can be observed in the works of Jaroslav Prošek, another successful pioneer of Czech glass art. In his glass creations, Prošek explores the qualities of the glass form, such as sharp edges, rounded surfaces, porous textures, color, and prismatic light splitting, while also embracing more conceptual approaches.

Under his hands, glass narratives transform, taking the viewer back to a time when the first glass was crafted in Mesopotamia almost 6,000 years ago, and merging it with subfossil oak wood from the same period. This juxtaposition raises questions about ourselves, collective memory, and the immediate present.

The Istanbul Basilica Cistern Museum is a unique place to bring these elements together. There is no better way to contribute to celebrating this year’s anniversary of Czech-Turkish diplomatic relations and to foster bilateral cultural ties between the Czech Republic and Türkiye. We hope that this exhibition raises unspoken questions, helps viewers look at the past and present through a new prism, or simply leaves them astounded by the beauty of glass forms that sensitively complement the unique architecture of the Basilica Cistern.

MA. Jakub Dluhosch
Assistant of Economic Department
Consulat Generale of the Czech Republic Istanbul

About Vlastimil Beránek

Every human being is unique. We all have our feelings, anxieties, and worries. We also have our noble moments, thoughts, and behaviors. Everyone loves, and everyone strives to live their life with the best of intentions. Each person is a human being, with their own “faults, abilities, and advantages.”

Not everyone possesses the talent to express love and gratitude to a broader audience beyond their circle of friends and family. However, some people have the ability to share values and express positivity, love, and goodwill with people across nations, races, genders, and social classes.

Those who excel in elevating the human spirit, spreading joy, humanity, gratitude, compassion, and love, are artists. Their message is needed now more than ever in our rushed, “modern” world, filled with greed, ecological challenges, and humanitarian crises.

The world needs to hear the voices of artists who call for peace, humility, and tolerance. One can see these real-life values in the work of Vlastimil Beránek. His expression of solid foundations invites everyone to pause, or at least slow down, and cherish the best feelings within each of us.

Vlastimil Beránek is often regarded as the “Czech Leonardo da Vinci,” excelling in many disciplines. He is a painter, architect, writer, graphic artist, poet, designer, and sculptor. Whatever he undertakes, he executes with a samurai-like perfectionism and meticulous attention to detail. His primary domain is sculpture, where he stands as a titan.

His simple forms, executed in materials ranging from stone to ancient 6,500-year-old wood, are the ultimate expression of minimalist shapes. However, his favorite material is glass. With its transparency, glass lends his sculptures an added dimension. When viewing his works, they appear to be in constant motion, and although they are made from solid material, they feel alive. The transparency and translucency of the glass allow new perspectives to emerge from within the mass.

Beránek refers to his sculptures as fragile beings, houses with strong foundations. The longer one gazes at them, the more apparent the reality of his sculptures becomes. They embody the interplay between the present and the past, breathing in and breathing out. What is real is not just the outer form, but the substance within.

Beránek seeks a unique balance between abstract form and inspired innermost values. His sculptures are irreversibly complete. Nothing is missing. They are bearers of intimate statements, tales of sensibility, and expressions of new ideas. His sculptures offer the spectator the opportunity to pause, reflect on their own thoughts, and begin a dialogue.

This is why Beránek is often hesitant to give his sculptures full names or provide extensive explanations of his creative thoughts. He invites and encourages spectators to create their own interpretations, influenced by their inner experiences. He inspires new thoughts and brings the joy of discovery. Beránek’s sculptures possess a special energy, filled with inner peace, joy, and mysticism. In his mastery of glass craft, Beránek’s artistry comes full circle. We can agree on this: art is indeed a product of skill.

Miroslav Kroupa
Curator and owner of Gallery Kroupa

About Jaroslav Prošek

Jaroslav Prošek is not the typical artist who fell in love with art in childhood, pursued formal education, and honed his craft through consistent practice. His journey into the world of glass art took time. Prošek was always skilled with his hands, working in various art workshops, but it was in the studio of artist Vlastimil Beránek that he discovered his passion for sculpture.

Recognizing his talent, Beránek encouraged Prošek to create more, pushing him to take on larger projects. Before long, Prošek surprised his mentor with original sculptures that were not only unique in expression but also rich in storytelling.

Prošek employs several innovative techniques to create sculptures with an unprecedented appearance. Unlike other artists who melt glass into molds, Prošek carves directly from large chunks of glass, similar to how stone sculptures are made. His forceful approach to this fragile material results in stunning shapes. Once the rough chipping is complete, he uses more delicate techniques to refine his masterpieces. This fundamental sculpting method is rare, if not entirely unique, in glass art.

Prošek also has a deep appreciation for wood, particularly subfossil oak, which has been buried underground for 6,500 years. He views this ancient material as perfect for his creations, giving new life to these trees by shaping them into monumental sculptures. Some of these works are already exhibited in renowned museums and institutions. From smaller pieces of this ancient wood, Prošek carves ‘artefacts,’ often pairing them with their ‘sisters’ made of crystal.

Prošek’s works are inspired by nature and everyday life. He is an exceptional observer, translating his surroundings into sculptures that tell powerful stories. Prošek explores what he considers the ‘new bronze’ of the 21st century, delving into how nature interacts with humanity. His work is deeply influenced by the declining quality of natural habitats and their rapid destruction.

He is concerned about the potential ‘end of nature,’ which he believes could ultimately lead to the end of the human world. Prošek fears that life will continue without humans if humanity and common sense do not prevail over economic interests. His work is a call to action, urging people to change and to stop destroying the most vital aspect of their existence: nature.