Sensing Places: Looking for a way back home

The guest of the next edition of the Czech Centre’s Women in Focus series will be Sara Polak, an archaeologist, evolutionary anthropologist, and technology innovator whose work bridges the humanities and cutting-edge AI research. Polak is a co-founder of the Mobilis Institute and the blockchain educational platform ShellProof, a Visiting Research Fellow and part-time lecturer at the University of Oxford, and leads the CCHAOS Research group at the Faculty of Information Technology, Czech Technical University. Her focus lies in the digitisation of cultural heritage and the simulation of civilisational dynamics. Having spent much of her career in the UK and the USA tech sectors, Polak is passionate about connecting modern technologies with the humanities. She has been named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30, was recognised as a Top Innovator (2022), and received the Business Revolution Award from the UK Department for International Trade. She believes that only through education and interdisciplinary collaboration can humanity fulfil its potential — and perhaps one day survive on Mars. She explores these ideas through the Civilisational Resilience think tank, which she co-founded.  In her talk Archaeology and AI: the last hope for our survival?, Sara Polak will explore how civilisational resilience — the ability of societies to endure, adapt, and thrive through both crises and everyday pressures — increasingly depends on the synergy between technology and the humanities. She will examine how artificial intelligence and archaeology can enrich our understanding of past societies and offer strategies for a more sustainable future. By combining AI-driven archaeological research with humanistic insight, we can preserve cultural heritage, learn from historical adaptations, and help shape ethical, resilient technologies for generations to come. Sara will be in conversation with Miky Škoda Miky Škoda is a serial founder and evolutionary strategist, combining AI, education, and adaptability to tackle complex challenges. As co-founder of the Mobilis Institute, he helps organizations grow through innovative learning, science-based tools and strategies designed to build resilience and prepare for the future.     More information:   https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/program/women-in-focus-sara-polak   #womeninfocus #airesearch #technology

In today’s episode of (when) Art Talks, you will hear all about the identity of a place, timelessness versus following trends, and sustainability—and what it means for the future of design. Joining the host Sabina Tocháčková is Dagmar Zvoníčková, a co-founder of the creative studios Identity Designers and Novavita. Tune in and get inspired by her unique approach to recycling waste and building communities through architecture. https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/program/from-print-to-virtual #(when)arttalks #identitymeetssustainability #dagmarzvonickova

The next edition of the Czech Centre’s Women in Focus series takes a unique turn—this time delving into the deeply personal and spiritual. Juliet Vopěnka Navrátilová, author, shamanic practitioner, Blue Badge guide, and anthropology student, shares her transformative journey from illness and emotional struggle to healing and empowerment. Through sensitivity, ritual, and connection, she redefines what it means to thrive in today’s world. About Juliet Vopěnka Navrátilová Juliet left the Czech Republic at 19 and spent two decades in London after a few years in Berlin. Her lifelong sensitivity, once a burden, became a strength during a deep “alchemical journey of metamorphoses.” This is also the subtitle of her second book, Cesta (ne)mocné Londýňanky (The Journey of a Power(less) Londoner), which explores trauma, healing, and shamanic calling. Her London life included work in Wandsworth prison and as a Blue Badge guide. With degrees in Social and Medical Anthropology from Goldsmiths and UCL, her study focused on consciousness, ecofeminism, and ritual. Her first book, Myslet srdcem (Thinking with the Heart), became a Czech bestseller.   About the Theme of the Evening – An Empath’s Journey from Rags to Riches In this edition of the Czech Centre’s Women in Focus series, Juliet Vopěnka Navrátilová offers a deeply personal and spiritual reflection on living with extreme sensitivity. Her “shamanic illness” became the turning point that redirected her path—from illness and emotional struggle to healing, empowerment, and purpose. In this context, “rags to riches” refers not to material wealth, but to emotional, mental, and spiritual abundance gained through self-understanding. Through travels in Latin America and participation in shamanic ceremonies, Juliet came to see her empathic nature as a gift rather than a burden. Empaths—highly sensitive, neurodiverse individuals—often absorb others’ emotions unconsciously, leading to exhaustion and illness. By embracing her sensitivity, she now helps others reconnect with their intuition and inner power. As a shamanic practitioner, she also energetically cleanses homes and spaces. Her journey is one of transformation through ritual, awareness, and heart-centred connection. www.thinkingwiththeheart.com  www.mysletsrdcem.cz Juliet will be in conversation with Suzanne Edwards Suzanne has been friends with Juliet for nearly 20 years. She is a published author of three books about spirituality, two of which are on the topic of shamanism. She is a spiritual teacher specialising in dream work and shamanic healing. She is currently researching the subject of ancient dream practices in different cultures including Egypt, Greece, Mexico, China and the Amazon. She is an empath living in London and has had a massage practice there for over 25 years. Event took place on Tue 13 May 2025 at the Czech Centre at the Czech Embassy Cinema. More information: https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/program/juliet-vopenka-navratilova #womeninfocus #shamanic #healing  

The history of both Czech and global graphic design would be incomplete without the groundbreaking contributions of Czech artists whose work transcended borders and shaped visual culture worldwide. This event explores the lasting impact of Alphonse Mucha, Karel Teige, Ladislav Sutnar, and Miroslav Šašek—visionaries whose innovations continue to inspire designers today. Mucha, the pre-eminent exponent of Art Nouveau, revolutionized visual culture in Belle Époque Paris with his iconic theatre and advertising posters, laying the foundation for modern graphic design, whileTeige, a key figure of the European avant-garde, redefined book design through bold typography and geometric compositions. Sutnar pioneered modern information design, creating user-friendly communication systems that remain relevant today, and Šašek’s beloved This is… series of illustrated city guides reshaped how generations of children experienced the world. Curator Tomoko Sato (Mucha Foundation), Peter Zusi (The Integrity of the Avant-Garde, Karel Teige and the Biography of an Ambition, Legenda 2024), Adrian Shaughnessy (graphic designer and RCA senior lecturer), and Lukáš Novotný (designer and illustrator) will shed light on how these Czech designers helped shape modern visual culture through a series of illustrated presentations, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.  Chaired by John Walters, editor of Eye, the international review of graphic design. Tomoko Sato has been curator of the Mucha Foundation since 2007, overseeing its exhibition and research programs. Formerly curator at the Barbican Art Gallery (Barbican Centre), London, she has curated a wide range of exhibitions examin- ing the art, architecture, design, and photography of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a long-standing interest in the artistic and cul- tural cross-fertilization between East and West. Her publications include Japan and Britain: An Aesthetic Dialogue, 1850–1930 (Lund Humphries, 1991), The Wilde Years: Oscar Wilde and the Art of His Time (Philip Wilson, 2000), Mucha (Taschen, 2015), Alphonse Mucha Photographs (Mucha Foundation Publishing, 2018), and Le Pater: Le Grand Oeuvre d’Alphonse Mucha (Édition de la Réunion des musées nationaux-Grand Palais, 2023). Peter Zusi is Associate Professor of Czech and Comparative Literature at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, where he also serves as Vice Dean for Research in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Peter’s research spans various disciplines, including Czech and German literature and culture from the 18th through 21st centuries, Central European intellectual history, Czechoslovak film and photography, Slovak literature, theory of literary and visual avant-gardes and modernism, philosophy of history, Critical Theory, and the intersection of literature and architecture. He is also the author of the recently published The Integrity of the Avant-Garde: Karel Teige and the Biography of an Ambition (Cambridge, England: Legenda, 2024).  Adrian Shaughnessy is a graphic designer, writer, educator and publisher. A senior lecturer at the RCA, he also works as an independent design consultant. His book How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul has sold 80,000 copies and been translated into multiple languages. He is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale and a regular contributor to leading design journals. He co-founded Unit Editions, publishing acclaimed design books, and has authored monographs on Herb Lubalin, Ken Garland, Paula Scher, Vaughan Oliver, FHK Henrion and Lance Wyman. Lukáš Novotný is an illustrator, graphic designer and author. His background is in the world of civil engineering and architecture, and most of his illustrations and design work relates to architecture and cities. His latest book, Modern New York, won 2024 Communication Arts Awards while his first book, Modern London, was shortlisted for the British Book Design Awards. His work was featured on BBC Radio London, TimeOut London, Czech Television, Londonist, Grand Designs magazine, Outsider and more. John L. Walters is the editor and co-owner of Eye, the international review of graphic design, and also edits Pulp journal for Italian paper company Fedrigoni. He has written extensively about graphic design and culture, and has programmed and co-hosted 49 Type Tuesday events at the St Bride Foundation in London. Originally a maths/physics graduate, Walters founded the electrojazzpop group Landscape (landscape.band) and worked as a composer, arranger and record producer before launching the award-winning CD journal Unknown Public with Laurence Aston in the 1990s. For five years he wrote a music column for The Guardian. Walters is the author of Alan Kitching: A Life in Letterpress (2016) and has won three ‘Editor of the Year’ BSME (British Society of Magazine Editors) awards. He has edited Pulp since 2014 and Eye since 1999. This is an accompanying event to Identity - The Story of Czech Graphic Design exhibition at the Vitrínka Gallery and Bouda Gallery, Czech Centre London, running from 28 February till 30 June 2025. Recorded on Tue 22 Apr 2025 at the Czech Centre at the Czech Embassy Cinema. More information about events at Czech Centre London: https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/program #mucha #teige #czechgraphicdesign  

Czech Centre’s Women in Focus series returns this March, once again exploring the field of architecture. After an inspiring evening with world-renowned Czech-born architect Eva Jiřičná in September 2023, we are delighted to welcome Lenka Petráková, Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects. Throughout her career, Lenka has explored architecture through engineering, design, and legal frameworks, shaping her holistic approach to the built environment. She condensed 20 years of study into just 13, balancing full-time work and education. This dual perspective has enabled groundbreaking academic projects and informed her professional practice, particularly in leading projects atZaha Hadid Architects. A key milestone was The 8th ContinentⓇ – Ocean Cleaning and Research Station, which reinforced her commitment to sustainable architecture. Her research focuses on evolving design strategies for sustainability, explored in her PhD, and decarbonising construction through legal and procurement strategies at King’s College London. She will discuss the challenges of pushing beyond societal limits on ambition, the importance of a strong support network, and the drive that fuels her continuous pursuit of knowledge and innovation. Lenka Petráková  Associate, Zaha Hadid Architects Before joining Zaha Hadid Architects in 2017, Lenka gained international experience in New York, Vienna, and Bratislava. She specialises in design development and technical coordination across residential, hospitality, and office projects. Currently, she is  Lead Architect for the Le Schuylkill refurbishment in Monaco, overseeing design, planning, and team management. Her expertise spans Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East. She has played a key role in major office projects in China, including Taikang Headquarters (Wuhan), OPPO Headquarters (Shenzhen) and CECEP (Shanghai),], focusing on planning, technical coordination, and interior design. Lenka completed her PhD in 2024 on Design Inspired by Nature. Her passion for sustainability has earned her prestigious awards, including the 2020 GRAND PRIX AWARD from the Jacques Rougerie Foundation and the 2022 Peace Prize from The International Peace Committee. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the UN Ocean Conference, and 2020 Dubai Expo. She holds degrees in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Design from the Slovak University of Technology and a Master’s from the University of Applied Arts. In 2023, she is pursuing Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College London, reinforcing her commitment to guiding projects from concept to completion. Lenka will be in conversation with Marko Margeta Marko Margeta Marko Margeta is an Associate at Bjarke Ingels Group in London, with over 20 years of experience in the AEC and CGI industries, including 11 years specialising in computational design. A registered architect, designer, and computational specialist, he has broad expertise in BIM, sustainability, procedural and parametric design. His diverse portfolio spans projects of all scales—from product design to large-scale masterplans—realised internationally, including in China, the Middle East, and Germany. Event took place on Tue 18 Mar 2025 19:00, Czech Centre at the Czech Embassy Cinema. More information about upcoming events: https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/program #womeninfocus #czechcentrelondon #lenkapetrakova  

In the latest episode of (when) Art Talks, we explore the rich history of Czech graphic design through the lens of Identity, a groundbreaking multi-genre project. Our guests are co-author Filip Blažek and producer Michal Gregorini. Join our host Sabina Tocháčková as she uncovers insights and behind-the-scenes stories from the project's creation. https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/  #(when)arttalks #identita

In this episode of (when) Art Talks, we explore the rich legacy and artistry of the Smetana Trio, one of the most renowned Czech chamber ensembles. Celebrating 90 years since its founding, the trio continues to perform on the world’s most iconic stages, including earlier this month at the Wigmore Hall.  Join our host, Sabina Tocháčková, and learn more about their history, inspiration, and artistic journey.   https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/ #(when)arttalks #thesmetanatrio

On 30th November, the stunning Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre hosted the gala concert of this year’s Made in Prague Festival, featuring internationally acclaimed Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl alongside the English Chamber Orchestra. Listen to the audio reportage, experience the beautiful performance of the English Chamber Orchestra and Pavel Šporcl for yourself, and hear the guests' delighted reactions. More information about the 28th Made in Prague Festival events:  https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/projects/28th-made-in-prague-festival #madeinpraguefestival #closinggala #pavelsporcl #southbankcentre

On Tuesday evening, November 26th, the Coronet Theatre in London became a portal to the surreal and unsettling world of Franz Kafka as it hosted an event entitled Inspired by Kafka: Insectum K. & Joseph Kilian. This evening brought together cinematic masterpieces and a mesmerising dance performance, celebrating the centenary of Kafka’s legacy. Listen to the audio reportage, step into Kafka´s world for a few moments and hear the thoughts of visitors and performers. More information about the 28th Made in Prague Festival events:  https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/projects/28th-made-in-prague-festival   #madeinpraguefestival #inspiredbykafka #coronettheatre

On the evening of November 23rd, The Gate cinema in London hosted a screening of the powerful detective drama We Have Never Been Modern. The screening was followed by an engaging Q&A session with actress Eliška Křenková, who delivered a stunning performance as the film’s protagonist, Helena, and producer Maja Hamplová, who shared behind-the-scenes insights. Listen to the audio reportage to catch a glimpse of We Have Never Been Modern and gain fascinating insights from the guests.  More information about the 28th Made in Prague Festival events: https://london.czechcentres.cz/en/projects/28th-made-in-prague-festival #madeinpraguefestival #wehaveneverbeenmodern #gatecinema