Revolutionary glass melting technology, wall paintings, and audiovisual installations. Czechia unveils details of the Visitors' Journey at EXPO 2025.

"Alongside the historical legacy, an equally important motif is the very theme of EXPO, which emphasizes the focus on shaping the future society for our lives—highlighting the necessity of recognizing that each individual is part of a greater whole. The installation thus becomes a dynamic medium where the viewer is indirectly, yet unsettlingly, confronted with the urgency of fundamental issues," adds Lucie Drdová, curator of the visitor journey.

The dialogue between contemporary artists and the philosophical ethos of Alphonse Mucha serves as the symbolic conclusion of the entire journey. In its final section, visitors encounter an intimate sculpture of a girl set against a Mucha-inspired formal backdrop, created using a contemporary visual language. The so-called Nude on a Rock (1898–1899) symbolically represents humanity’s path toward higher knowledge, embodying the core message of the World Expo about the collective progress of humankind.

The visitor journey highlights two significant milestones in the history of modern Czech glassmaking. The exhibition includes the striking "Herbarium" installation by Lasvit, which uses a unique technology to capture the delicate beauty of plants encased in glass. Another key element is the presentation of the revolutionary glass smelting technology Vitrum Vivum, developed by glass artist Jiří Šín in collaboration with Rony Plesl. This innovative method allows for the creation of glass sculptures without previous technological constraints, marking a major breakthrough in cast glass art and continuing the legacy of Professor Stanislav Libenský. 

"Conventional technologies rely on the presence of a surface layer that forms due to melting glass rods in an open mold. Such works are highly limited in structure, as they must either be glued together from multiple pieces or cut and polished into the desired shape. They are also restricted in form, as these molds are constrained by how the glass rods can be arranged within them," explains Rony Plesl, the author of the artistic concept for the visitor journey of the Czech National Pavilion. According to him, the Vitrum Vivum technology is unique precisely because it eliminates this surface layer—meaning there is no need to leave one side of the object flat. Instead, closed molds allow molten glass to flow in through channels, similar to bronze casting. This innovation overcomes boundaries, especially in terms of size, complexity, and weight of individual objects. The shaping of the molds and the method of filling them make it possible to create fully three-dimensional and highly intricate glass sculptures.

About the Artists Creating the Visitor Journey for the Czech National Pavilion Rony Plesl is a globally recognized glass artist and designer with a distinguished international career and deep expertise in glass craftsmanship. He is an innovator in glass sculpture and a successor to the legacy of prominent figures such as Professor Stanislav Libenský.One of his most significant achievements was his participation in the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (2022), where he presented the installation Trees Grow from the Sky at the Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione. The work captivated audiences not only with its philosophical depth but also with its use of the revolutionary Vitrum Vivumtechnology, which enables glass casting without traditional limitations. Plesl’s work bridges tradition and modern innovation, evoking strong emotions and connecting viewers to both the history and future of glass art. As a professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague, he brings valuable experience from Czech design and art into the project. Plesl is also renowned for his ability to create immersive installations that deeply engage visitors—an essential skill in crafting the compelling and interactive visitor journey of the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025.

Jakub Matuška, also known as Masker, is one of the leading Czech artists of his generation. Emerging from a background in graffiti and street art, he has evolved into a versatile creator, working across painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and installations. Since 2013, his work has fused urban poetics with a complex, "holistic" approach—combining youthful, ironic, and poetic reflections on city life with explorations of his own holistic experience. Matuška's distinctive style merges traditional painting techniques with digital manipulation of hand-drawn sketches and airbrushing on large canvases. His ongoing question, "How should one be?", serves as a foundation for testing the tension between image and language, as well as between painting and drawing, exploring their ability to shape our perception of reality. Through his art, he navigates the boundaries between reality and perception. He was nominated for the Jindřich Chalupecký Award in 2010 and won the National Gallery Prague 333 Award in 2011. Today, he lives and works in Prague.

Lunchmeat Studio is a Prague-based creative collective specializing in digital media and audiovisual installations. Their innovative approach, blending modern technology with artistic expression, has led to collaborations with prestigious cultural institutions, including the National Gallery Prague, Kunsthalle Praha, and the National Theatre. Among their most notable projects are the immersive installation The Grief of Misfit Cathedrals for Kunsthalle Praha, the light installations Henge and Intensive Reflections on Modernity for Signal Festival, and stage designs for the performances Bohemian Gravity and Human Locomotion at the National Theatre. Since 2010, Lunchmeat Studio has organized the Lunchmeat Festival, a platform for alternative electronic music and new media. In 2023, in collaboration with Apropos Architects, they won the competition to design the Czech Pavilion for EXPO 2025 in Osaka.

Lucie Drdová is an art historian, gallerist, and curator based between Prague and Venice. In 2012, she founded Lucie Drdova Gallery, focusing on contemporary art, with locations in Prague and Brussels. Among her most significant curatorial projects are the interdisciplinary exhibition Confluence in Venice (2024) and Trees Grow from the Sky by Rony Plesl, which was part of the official program of the Venice Biennale 2022 and later exhibited at the Museum Kampa in Prague. In addition to her gallery work, she regularly publishes and lectures on the institutional context of contemporary art, gallery practices, and the work of contemporary artists.