Modernity Meets Tradition: The Czech National Pavilion Offers a Contemporary Perspective on Mucha’s Work Through the Eyes of Glass Artist Rony Plesl and Painter Jakub Matuška

"The central pillar of the artistic concept for the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025 is a return to the roots of human creativity and values that intertwine tradition, labour, and philosophy. Our inspiration was Alfons Mucha's unfinished triptych The Three Ages: The Age of Love, The Age of Reason, and The Age of Wisdom. I see Mucha as a versatile artist of global significance. His work is highly popular in Japan and admired even by the Imperial Family, which maintains a lasting friendship with the Mucha family. This is why Mucha plays such a pivotal role in our presentation. On his 165th birthday, July 24, 2025, we will celebrate Czech National Day,” says Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of the Czech Participation at Expo 2025.

Mucha’s cycle, with its timeless philosophy, reflects the fundamental principles of human existence, their evolution, and interconnectedness. The visitor journey through the Czech Pavilion symbolizes a pathway toward a harmonious and sustainable society, resonating with the Expo’s theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives. The concept emphasizes craftsmanship and the authentic creative process, aligning with the Czech participation theme: Talent and Creativity for Life. The pavilion celebrates the human ability to create something extraordinary through individual effort, highlighting creativity as a cornerstone of human progress and reminding us that talent and diligence are essential to sustainable and meaningful societal development. It further combines Czech history and tradition with modern elements, creating a unique and inspiring experience.

"The Czech exhibition will captivate visitors even before they enter the pavilion, thanks to a façade made of Czech glass. The visitor journey, designed as a spiral from the entrance to the rooftop, is architecturally unique and perfectly aligns with the story of the triptych we want to share through emotions. Our goal is to showcase Czech creativity in its most authentic form – from classical artists to contemporary creators like Masker, and even innovative digital art. For years, I have been working to ensure that the concept of Czech glass remains meaningful. By connecting it with the work of Jakub Matuška and emerging digital artists, I see a path to engage and, hopefully, amaze the world," says Rony Plesl, the creator of the artistic concept for the visitor journey in the Czech National Pavilion and a renowned Czech glass artist.

One of the key elements of the exhibition is the collaboration between Rony Plesl and visual artist Jakub Matuška, known as Masker. Matuška’s dynamic comic-inspired paintings will complement monumental glass sculptures, crafted using the patented Vitrum Vivum technology, a global innovation that enables glass melting in a closed mold. The project won’t be limited to professionals – students will also have the opportunity to bring their original designs to life.

This collaboration, along with others, demonstrates how diverse artistic approaches can combine to create an exhibition space that is both traditional and cutting-edge. According to Plesl’s vision, the visitor journey will be coordinated by Jan Herget, who will oversee this integral aspect of the Czech National Pavilion.

About Rony Plesl Rony Plesl is a world-renowned glass artist and designer with a distinguished international career and deep knowledge of glassmaking. Plesl is an innovator in the field of glass sculpture and a continuer of the legacy of prominent figures like Professor Libenský. Among his most notable achievements is his participation in the 59th International Biennale of Visual Arts in Venice (2022), where he presented the installation "Trees Grow from the Sky" at the Santa Maria della Visitazione church. The work was captivating not only for its philosophical depth but also for the use of the revolutionary Vitrum Vivum technology, which enables glass melting without limitations.

His work bridges tradition and modern innovation, evoking powerful emotions and connecting the viewers with both the history and the future of glass art. As a professor at the Academy of Art, Architecture, and Design in Prague, he brings valuable experience from Czech design and art to the project.

Plesl is also known for his ability to create experiential installations that immerse visitors and leave a long-lasting impression. This skill is crucial for creating an engaging and interactive visitor journey for the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025.

About the Triptych "The Three Ages": The Age of Reason, The Age of Wisdom, and The Age of Love In the final years of his life, under the growing threat of another war, Mucha embarked on a new ambitious project. The triptych The Age of Reason, The Age of Wisdom, and The Age of Love was meant to serve as a memorial to all of humanity. The themes he explored—reason, wisdom, and love—were fundamental pillars of humanity for Mucha. His notes suggest that he viewed reason and love as two opposing forces, which could only be united through wisdom. As part of preparing the cycle, which was to be his final work, he filled numerous sketchbooks with moments from each of the three pieces. He completed full monochromatic pencil and watercolour designs for each of the images, but unfortunately, he was unable to finish the triptych due to his deteriorating health.

About Czech pavilion at EXPO 2025 In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Czech Commissioner General announced an open anonymous architectural competition for the design of the national pavilion for EXPO 2025. A total of 38 teams entered the competition, from which an expert jury headed by world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning design in the shape of a glass spiral by Apropos Architects in March 2023. The load-bearing structure of the building will consist of modern wooden panels, while the façade will be made of art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in Czechia. The National Pavilion will offer a worthy backdrop for the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, which will be held from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. The pavilion will house a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, a restaurant, a VIP lounge and a relaxation area in front of the pavilion with a view of the sea.