About the authors

​Helena Gaudekova and Alice Kraemerova are former curators of the Japanese and Korean Collection (National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic). Alice Kraemerova has worked for the Museum for over 12 years when she was joined by Helena Gaudekova for three years. While both curators worked on their own research topics, they also cooperated and co-authored three books, numerous articles and several exhibitions. Even after their work at the Museum concluded the two curators continued to share their passion for Japanese arts, crafts and traditional culture. Based on their rich experience with the Japanese collections and research carried out in Prague as well as in Japan, the two authors decided to create this blog as an outlet for their unceasing fascination with Japan and a platform to share new findings of their research.​

See below for more details about the authors and their previous work:

Helena Gaudekova, BA (Hons), MA (Distinction), PhD Candidate - University of York; Curator at Beverley Art Gallery, East Yorkshire. 

Kiyomizuyama detail

                                              

Curator and artist (b. 1980). Helena studied at the English College in Prague; Fine Art / Painting at Private College of Art and Design in Prague (CZ) and Christ’s Hospital School (UK);  Art History BA at the Charles University in Prague (CZ) and MA at University of Central Lancashire (UK).  Helena has previously worked as an artist, lecturer, translator and hospital art-activities co-coordinator. Her research interests include late 19th century and early 20th century European and Japanese art history. Japanese traditional aesthetics has also influenced Helena’s own artistic work. From 2011 for over three years Helena has worked as a Curator of Japanese and Korean Collection at the National Museum in Prague, CZ. During this period Helena and her colleague Dr. Alice Kraemerova co-authored a number of books and articles dealing with Japanese culture, mainly focusing on ukiyo-e woodcut prints, Buddhist art and Japanese traditional toys. Helena has undertaken several research stays in Japan cooperating with universities and cultural institutions in Tokyo, Kyoto, Himeji and Hirosaki. Helena lives and works in the UK.

https://www.helena-gaudekova-art.com/

(see Bibliography for list of publications and exhibitions)

 

PhDr. Alice Kraemerová

Curator, translator, author. Graduated from Charles University, Dept. of Far Eastern Studies, Japanology in 1973, then she worked six years as a translator and interpreter in a Japanese company situated in Prague. Between 1982 and 1985  Dr.Kraemerova also taught Japanese and English languages in the State Language School. Then for six years (1985-1990) she lectured in Japanese language and literature at the Charles University in Prague, Philosophical Faculty, Department of Far Eastern Studies. Professionally a very fruitful period followed in 1991 when she started the free-lance translator´s and interpreter´s job and at the same time she was lecturing part-time in Japanese language and literature in the Philosophical Faculty of the Palacký University, Olomouc, Cz. The work of a curator of  the Japanese and Korean Collections, Asian Department, Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures – National Museum, Prague, between the years 1998  and 2014 represents the final stage of her professional life. Her success in promoting and popularising Japanese culture was recently acknowledged by the Japanese government that awarded Dr. Kraemerova the 4th grade national decoration, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

(see Bibliography for list of publications and exhibitions)

AK

 

Authors’ Bibliography

HELENA GAUDEKOVA, MA           

 

Exhibitions curated / co-curated / co-operated on

Playing all day long – Japanese traditional toys, National Museum, CZ, 2013

Through suffering towards enlightenment – Japanese Buddhist art, National Museum, CZ, 2013

In the shadow of sakura blossoms – Japanese prints, Municipal gallery in Olomouc, CZ, 2012

Geisha and samurai, National museum, Prague, 2012

Cooperated on :

Geisha and samurai, National museum, Prague, 2012

Japonism in Czech Art, National Gallery, Prague, CZ, 2014

Zbynek Sekal and Japan, Municipal Gallery, Pilsen, CZ, 2014

Lastest exhibitions of Helena’s own fine art & Art projects:

Twenty Paintings from Prague and Japan, Room at the Top, Stockport, UK, April/May 2015.  https://www.facebook.com/events/1382604728731436/

Participated at Event Horizon – multimedia art project and site specific installation at Karlin Studios, Prague, CZ, May 2015. Under the lead of art-therapy expert and artist Kamila Ženatá.                                  https://www.hithit.com/en/project/1066/horizont-udalosti-event-horizon

2014 Designing web site of the Department of Contemporary Continental Philosophy– Philosophy Department of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. https://oskf.flu.cas.cz/cz and https://www.helena-gaudekova-art.com/photogallery/web-design/

Japanese Essence – Paintings and Watercolours Exhibition in Le Boudoir Gallery, Prague, CZ, Sept/Nov 2014.  https://www.facebook.com/events/437086359763236/permalink/441380839333788/?pnref=story

For more details and further info on other projects see: https://www.helena-gaudekova-art.com/ 

Publications:

Monographs (in English):

Hrajeme si celý den (Playing all day long) (a slightly altered Czech language version of the 2013 below listed monograph), Národní muzeum, 2014 (co-author Alice Kraemerová) {in print Feb 2015}

Playing all day long – Japanese traditional Toys from the Náprstek Museum Collection in Prague, 159 p., Národní muzeum, 2013 (co-author Alice Kraemerová), ISBN 978-80-7036-389-8. Translated by Helena Gaudekova.

Buddhas, Bódhisattvas and Deities – Japanese Buddhist Art from the Náprstek Museum, Národní muzeum, 2012 (co-author Alice Kraemerová). Translated by Valerie Talacko and Helena Gaudekova.

Articles

Folding Screens in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum, Annals of Naprstek Museum 2014, 35/ 2, ppg. 95-136 (co-author A. Kraemerova)

Výběr z japonské sbírky 2013 / Selection from the Japanese Collection 2013,CD-ROM catalogue, Národní muzeum, 2013, ISBN 978-80-7036-405-5

Nuances of Beauty – Yoshitoshi’s Concept of Women as a Reflection of Contemporary Society, Annals of NpM 2013, 34/ 1, pp. 43-59ISSN 0231-844X

Decadent Eccentric and Poetic Moon viewer, Annals of the Náprstek Museum 33/ 2012, ppg. 51-84 (co-author: A.Kraemerová)

Buddhas, Bódhisattvas and Deities – Japanese Buddhist Art from the Náprstek Museum, CD-ROM catalogue, Národní muzeum, 2012 (co-author Alice Kraemerová)

Buddhist Art Objects in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum, Prague, in: Japanese Collections in European Museums, Vol. IV: Buddhist Art, Tomoe Irene Maria Steineck, Josef Kreiner, and Raji C, Steineck (eds.), Reports from the International Symposium „Japanese Buddhist Objects in European Collections and Their Impact on the European Image of Japan“, Palace Lochov, Poland 2012, Bonn, Bier´sche Verlahsanstalt, pp. 243-258. (co-author Alice Kraemerová)

Provokativní výpověď o 19. století (A provocative testimony on 19th century art) 04/ 2012 Artalk.cz

Člověk a stroj v české kultuře 19. století (Men and machines in 19th century Czech culture) – Bulletin UHS 1/ 2012, ppg. 27-29

Surimono – Art+Antiques, 04/2012, ppg. 54-57

Yoshitoshi´s Prints in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum/ Jošitošiho tisky v japonské sbírce Náprstkova muzea. Prague, National Museum 2011.CD-ROM. Co-author Alice Kraemerova. ISBN 978-80-7036-327-0.

Japonsko a jeho tradiční divadlo v tvorbě Emila Orlika (Japan and its traditional theatre in the work of Emil Orlik), DISK 29, A journal devoted to performing arts and traditional theatre forms, September 2009, ppg. 147-154

Peterkův dům a jeho sochařská výzdoba (The Peterka House and its sculptural decoration), Kotěra rulez – I. Bulletin of the Kotěra centre, Prague 2009, ppg. 6-11

Orlikův japonský mistr: Kanó Tomonobu (I-II), (Orlik´s Japanese Master: Kanó Tomonobu),  Obrazar, section 20th Century Art, Obrazar.com, 2009

Helen Hyde – Američanka v Japonsku (I, II) (Helen Hyde – an American in Japan), Obrazar, section 20th Century Art, Obrazar.com, 2009

Orient očima zámožné Američanky (Bertha Lum) (I-III) (The Orient perceived by a wealthy American – Bertha Lum), Obrazar , section 19th Century Art,Obrazar.com, 2009

Japonské scenerie v Čechách, (Japanese sceneries in Bohemia) (co-author R. Prahl), DISK 23, A journal devoted to performing arts and traditional theatre, March 2008, ppg. 152- 154

Dr. ALICE KRAEMEROVA

Exhibition Projects:

2000:  ` Vzpomínky na samurajskou slávu (Remembering the Glory of Samurai),Náprstek

Museum, Prague

2001 :  ` Vzpomínky na samurajskou slávu (Remembering the Glory of Samurai),Municipal

Museum in Brno

2002 : ` Japonsko, šťastné a strašidelné symboly, (Happy and Ghostly Symbols in

                Japan), Municipal Museum and Gallery Břeclav

` Gejša (Geisha), Slavonian Museum in  Uherské Hradiště

2003 :  ` Malované básně (Haiga- Painted Poems) – from the private collection of Mr.

                Matsuda, Náprstek Museum, Prague (=NpM)

2004 :  ` Humor a legendy v japonském umění, (Humour and Legends in Japanese Art),

                NpM Prague

            ` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls), West Bohemian Museum in Karlovy Vary

2005:   ` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls), NpM, Prague

            ` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls), Museum in Ostrava

            ` Samurajská sláva (Samurai Glory), Museum of Regional History, Olomouc2006 :   2006:   ` Korejské tradice (Korean Traditions), NpM, Prague

` Humor a legendy v japonském umění, (Humour and Legends in Japanese Art),

Museum of Ironworks in Třinec

` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls), Museum of Ironworks in Třinec

2007:   ` Japonsko, má láska (Japan, My Love), NpM, Prague

` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls), Regional Museum of Mladá Boleslav

2009:   ` Korejské tradice (Korean Traditions), Museum of Ironworks in Třinec

` Samurajská čest (Samurai Honour), Museum in Kopřivnice ( Lašské muzeum

Kopřivnice)

` Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls),  Museum in Kopřivnice (Muzeum

Fojtství Kopřivnice)

` Japonsko, má láska (Japan, My Love), Moravian Museum, Brno (Moravské

zemské muzeum – Palác šlechtičen)

2010:   ` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai), Náprstek Museum, Prague

2011:   ` Květy a ptáci (Flowers and Birds), State Castle of Třeboň, National

Heritage Institute (Národní památkový ústav) in České Budějovice

` Korejské tradice (Korean Traditions),  Museum of Ostrava

` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai), Museum of Ironworks in Třinec

2013:   ` Hrajeme si celý den (Playing All Day Long), Prague CityMuseum, Ctěnice Castle

` Strastmi k probuzení (Awakening through Suffering ), Japanese Buddhist Items,

Museum of Ironworks in Třinec

` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai), Museum of Ústí nad Orlicí

2014:   ` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai), South Moravian Museum in Znojmo

` Strastmi k probuzení (Awakening through Suffering), Japanese Buddhist Items,

The Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum

` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai), Regional Museum of Vyškov

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Articles:

` Asian and African Linguistic Studies III, SOP, UK 1986 str. 71-86: A Correlations between Particles Usage and Verb Meaning.

` SOP XVI Far Eastern Studies UK 1987, str. 113-123: Proverbs as Syntactic Scheme in Japanese.

` Nový Orient 2/1987 str. 42:  Mudrosloví tentokrát japonské (Japanese Proverbs).

` Zpravodaj  České orientalistické společnosti, roč.IV., č. 1-2, Praha 1997, str. 45-46: Japonské svátky (Japanese Festivals).

` AUC Orientali Pragensia XII, Philologica 1, 1988, str. 81-98,: Tradice překladů z japonštiny(Tradition of Translating Japanese Literature into Czech)

` Outdoor 1998 str. 49-52: Nagano – Dlouhé pláně (Nagano means Long Plains)

` Nový Orient 2/99 str. 65-67: O teorii překladu a japonských tankách (On theory of translation and tanka poems)

` Hospodářské noviny na víkend 23/4/1999, str 1,8 : Putování časem a prostorem světadílů (Japanese Habits in the Flow of Time)

` Hospodářské noviny na víkend 21/5/1999: Japonci od pondělí do svátky (Japanese Festivals and Everyday Life

` Nový Orient 6/99 str. 227-231: Na vlnách osudu, (Interesting Life of B.M.Eliášová, her travels to Japan)

` Hospodářské noviny na víkend 31/3/2000: Čtivo pro malé i velké Japonce – MANGA (Comics for Children and Adults)

` EAJRS Newsletter 2000: The Náprstek Museum and its Japanese Collection

` Kokoro – čas. Čs.-jap. Společnosti, 2001 : Samurajové str. 4-8 (Samurais)

`  Nový Orient, 7/2003, str. 296-299: Nenápadný poklad a zapomenutá sekta,(Discreet Treasure and Forgotten Sect)

` Literární noviny, 14/3/2001, str. 4: Japonské panenky (Japanese Dolls)

` Arts & Antiques:     6/2003, str. 49-50: Samurajský meč (The Sword of Samurai)

10/2003, str. 46-47: Šablony na látky  (Japanese Katagami)

4/2004, str. 42-43: Japonské necuke (Japanese Netsuke)

` Aiči –  č. 2, str. 28-31: Kdo straší a chrání Japonce a Čechy (Who Protects and Threatens

                                         Czechs and  Japanese)

č. 3, str. 22-25: Japonské umění v českých sbírkách (Japanese Art in Czech

                                         Collections)

č. 3, str. 28-30: Komiks čili manga (Czech and Japanese Comics)

`Nový Orient, 2002, pp. 364-367: Kdo straší u Náprstků, (Japanese Ghosts in Náprstek Museum)

` Keramika a sklo, 6/2002 str. 20-21: Japonská keramika a porcelán, (Japanese ceramics and porcelain)

` Fighters Publications: Bojová umění/Fighter´s Magazin číslo 01-02, Volume 11, January/February  2006, p. 5  Víte proč… (Do you know why)

` Annals of the Náprstek Museum 27/2006, Kobe Dolls, pp. 15-20

` Annals of the Náprstek Museum, 29/2008, Report on War Prints in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum, pp. 77-85.

` Subaru magazín, O japonských příslovích a pověrčivosti, (On Japanese Proverbs and Superstitiousness), spring/summer 2008, p. 24-25

` Subaru magazín Knedlíček je více k užitku než květina (Dumpling is more useful than flower),  autumn/winter 2008, pp. 26,27

` Literární noviny 43, Co právě překládám (What I am translating now), ročník XIX, 20/10/2008 p. D

` Našinec v Oriente, ed. D.Slobodník,pp. 265-293 Japonská sbírka Joe Hlouchy v Náprstkově muzeu, (Japanese Collection of Joe Hloucha in the Náprstek Museum).

` Textil v muzeu: textil v depozitáři. Technické muzeum Brno: Brno, 2009: Japonský textil (Japanese Textile)

` Doslov do knihy (Postscript): Higuči Ičijó: Zápolení, překlad Miriam Jelínková, DharmaGaia 2008, 195 pp. s názvem Joe Hloucha, jeho sbírky a literární tvorba str. 187 – 193

` Encyklopedie Beliana, 2009: Japonské výtvarné umění, japonská architektura (Japanese Art, Japanese Architecture)

` Subaru magazine, autumn/winter 2010/2011: Svět květů a jív, svět válečníka (World of Blossoms and Willows, World of Warriors), str. 46-48.

` DISK 34, prosinec 2010: Gejši a samurajové – herecké výkony na scéně života (Geishas and Samurais – Dramatic Performances on the Scene of Life), str. 138-141.

` Annals of the Náprstek Museum No. 32/2011:  The Japanese Collection of Václav Stejskal,  pp.15-32.

` Svatební rituály u nás a ve světě, Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2012, ed. Jana Jiroušková: Nevěsta s černými zuby (A Bride with Black Teeth), Japonsko, pp. 231-250.

`Annals of the Náprstek Museum No.35/1, 2014: Talismans and Amulets in the Japanese Collection,  pp. 39-68.

`Annals of the Náprstek Museum No. 35/2, 2014:  Screens in the Japanese Collection, pp. 95-135.

Translations (Japanese/English to Czech):

` Ango Sakaguči: Idiotka, Světová literatura XL 3/95 str. 14-32

` Šičiró Fukazawa: Chlapci od vody, Nový Orient 8/1985, str. 250-251

` Kenzaburou Óe: Náhlá ztráta řeči, Nový Orient 3/1986, příloha

` Objevování Japonska, nakl. INA Bratislava, 1996, 48 stran

` Banana Jošimoto: Úplněk a jiné povídky, nakl. Brody, 1997

` Džippenša Ikku: Pěšky po Tókaidó, Literatura I, Sborník literatur Dálného východu číslo 1, str. 93-100

` Dravý jestřáb si načechral peří, japonské řazené básně, Dokořán, Praha 2008, 147 stran,

Books:

` Základní kurs japonštiny, skriptum FF UK Praha 1988 (Basic Course of Japanese Grammar)

` Minimum z Japonska, nakl. Olympia, 1997 (Minimum from Japan)

Japonsko, (s R.Kopečnou a P.Flanderkou), nakl. Olympia, Praha 1998 (Japan-Guidebook)

` Úvod do japanologie (jazyk a literatura), UP Olomouc, 1999 (An Introduction into Japanological Studies)

` Bibliografie překladů z japonské literatury do češtiny, in: Edwin E.Reischauer, Albert M. Craig: Dějiny Japonska, nakl.Lidové noviny, Praha 2000 (Bibliography of Literature Translations from Japanese into Czech)

` Katalog  k výstavě Vzpomínky na samurajskou slávu, CD ROM, 2000 (A Catalogue of the Exhibition – Remembering the Glory of Samurai)

` Katalog  k výstavě : Haiga – Malované básně, 28 stran, 2002 (A Catalogue of the Exhibition – Haiga – Painted Poems)

` Katalog  k výstavě Humor a legendy v japonském umění, 37 stran + CD ROM 2003(A Catalogue of the Exhibition – Humour and Legends in the Japanese Art)

` Japonská přísloví, nakladatelství Triton, 2005 (Japanese Proverbs)

` Šintó – část pro skriptum FSV UK Praha (Shintō – one part into the textbook of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague)

` Kraemerová, Alice, Šejbl, Jan: Japonsko, má láska (Joe Hloucha 1881-1957),Japan, My Love (Joe Hloucha 1880-1957), monograph of the National Museum, 191 pp.,Prague 2007

` Japonský šintoismus a synkretismus (Japanese shintoism and syncretism), in: Obrazy ženství v náboženských kulturách, ed. by Blanka Knotková-Čapková a kol. , Paseka, Litomyšl 2008, pp. 302-327

` Gejša a samuraj (Geisha and Samurai, exhibition catalogue), National Muzeum, Prague 2010

` Buddhové, bódhisattvové a božstva, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Deities, Buddhistické umění v japonské sbírce Náprstkova muzea, Buddhist Art in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum, National Museum, Prague 2013, 157 pp.

`  Decadent Eccentric and Poetic Moon-Viewer, in: Annals of the Náprstek Museum, No. 33, 2012, pp. 51-84.

Josef Kořenský and Japan, postskript, Josef Kořenský: In Japan (1893-94), nakladatelství Karolinum Press,2013, ISBN: 978-80-246-2073-2, pp. 429-436

` Jak komunikovat s Japonci aneb Nebuďme xenofobní (How to communicate with the Japanese,let us not be xenophobic), National Museum – Scriptorium, Praha 2013, 184 pp.

Playing all day long. National Museum, Prague 2013, 159 pp.

Buddhist Art Objects in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum,Prague, in: Japanese Collections in European Museums, Vol. IV: Buddhist Art, Tomoe Irene Maria Steineck, Josef Kreiner, and Raji C, Steineck (eds.), Reports from the International Symposium „Japanese Buddhist Objects in European Collections and Their Impact on the European Image of Japan“, Palac Lochov, Poland 2012, Bonn, Bier´sche Verlahsanstalt, pp. 243-258.

` Hrajeme si celý den (Playing all day long), Japonské tradiční hračky ve sbírkách Náprstkova muzea, Národní muzeum, Praha 2015.

CD ROM – electronic catalogues:

1994  Remembering the Glory of Samurai, Catalogue to the exhibition of Japanese swords, tsuba, armour)

2004  Netsuke, Okimono in Náprstek Museum Japanese Collection

2005  Japan – hand painted photos from Joe Hloucha´s collection

2006  Joe Hloucha, writer, traveller and collector – photos from his personal archive

2006  Osaka Wodblock Prints – in the Náprstek Museum´s Japanese Collection

2006  Surimono Prints in the Náprstek Museum´s Japanese Collection

2009  Joe Hloucha a sbírky Náprstkova muzea,  (Joe Hloucha and his Collections in the Náprstek Museum)

2010  Sword Guards,

2011  Japonská sbírka Václava Stejskala, elektronický katalog, (The Japanese Collection of Václav Stejskal).

2011  Jošitošiho tisky v japonské sbírce Náprstkova muzea (Yoshitoshi Prints in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum), Czech and English version, Národní muzeum, Praha.

2012  Buddhové, bódhisattvové a božstva, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Deities, Předměty buddhistického umění v japonské sbírce Náprstkova muzea, Items of Buddhist Art in the Japanese Collection of the Náprstek Museum.

2013  Japonské hračky ve sbírce Náprstkova muzea, (Japanese Toys in the Náprstek Museum Collection) National Museum.