PRESS RELEASE
Exterior exhibition TIGRID. JOURNALIST, EXILE AND POLITICIAN (1917-2003)
Mariánské náměstí, Prague 1 (2 September - 30 September 2024)
Prague, August 20, 2024 - The Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century has prepared an outdoor exhibition on the life, work and work of Pavel Tigrid (1917-2003), an important personality of
Czechoslovak and Czech history. His life was greatly influenced by the great turning points of the 20th century. He went into exile twice and returned to his homeland twice. During the German occupation he worked for the Czechoslovak BBC in London. After the war he worked as a journalist in the People's Party press. At the beginning of the 1950s he was the head of the Czechoslovak editorial office of Radio Free Europe in Munich. In 1956 he co-founded the exile magazine Svědectví, which he edited until the early 1990s. He supported the domestic opposition. After the fall of the communist regime, he worked in the presidential office as an advisor to Václav Havel. In 1994-1995 he held the post of Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. He received high Czech, French and German state honours.
The opening will be attended by Pavel Tigrid's daughter Deborah Tigrid-Marguerat and other guests.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a comprehensive printed catalogue in Czech and e-book versions in English and French will also be available.
The exhibition is held under the auspices of the Deputy Mayor of the Capital City of Prague. Jiří Pospíšil, who adds to the personality of Pavel Tigrid: "He was one of the most important journalists of the last century. His life story had an almost fairytale dimension, as the formerly ostracized outlaw became an advisor to President Václav Havel and then Minister of Culture upon his return to Prague. He was not only Czechoslovak and European, but also a Prague citizen."
The exhibition is also under the auspices of the Mayor of Prague 1, Terezie Radoměřská, who said: 'The exhibition about Pavel Tigrid is a reminder not only of his significant contribution to Czech culture and history, but also of his indomitable spirit and determination to fight for freedom and democracy. We are proud to host this exhibition in Marian Square, where visitors can learn about the life and work of this extraordinary figure."
Hana Kordová Marvanová, chairwoman of the board of the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century, Senator of the Czech Republic, adds: "I am delighted that the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century is devoting itself to this exceptional personality of the Czechoslovak exile and post-Soviet politics. Pavel Tigrid spoke out against the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia in a sharp, witty and sarcastic manner. He was very clear about the nature of communism and as a journalist he tried to fight it by all means, whether in the radio broadcasts of Free Europe or by publishing the magazine Svědectví, which was also distributed in Czechoslovakia. History proved Pavel Tigrid right and he received a well-deserved award after his return from exile."
Petr Blažek, the director of the Museum of the Memory of the 20th Century and co-author of the exhibition, emphasizes Pavel Tigrid's efforts not to succumb to adversity: "On the contrary, he actively tried to influence historical events again and again , even when developments sometimes seemed hopeless. He supported the domestic opposition movement in various ways and was involved, for example, in organising the smuggling of literature and reproduction equipment into Czechoslovakia. He also wrote many valuable publications on history and politics."
Accreditation: until September 2, 2024 12:00 p.m. by email to info@mpxx.cz.
Contact: Head of the Director's Office Erika Stařecká, erika.starecka@mpxx.cz, tel.: + 420 603 860 454.