Exhibition features drawings, photographs, documents and ephemera that tell the story of the artist’s childhood in Cold War-era Prague

Opening reception: Wednesday, September 15, 7:30 PM. RSVP required. 

Czech Center New York presents Peter Sís—The Wall, a documentary exhibition by the internationally acclaimed illustrator, author and filmmaker. Curated by Joachim Dvořák and Michaela Šilpochová, the exhibition is based on Sís’s award-winning autobiographical picture book “The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain.”

On view September 16 - November 19, 2021, Peter Sís—The Wall will showcase a series of original illustrations from the book and a documentary installation featuring drawings, photographs, and objects made by Sís as well as objects and ephemera from the period of 1950s-1980s. Presented on replicas of red street noticeboards, which were used for propaganda of the communist regime, the installation creates a powerful account of the artist’s experience in Cold War-era Prague. The exhibition is organized by the Czech Center New York and produced by the Labyrint Publishing House in collaboration with the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art and Czech Centres.

Considered Sís’s most ambitious and personal book, “The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain” is a 2007 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, a 2009 Caldecott Honor Book, a 2008 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year, the winner of the 2008 Boston Globe – Horn Book Award for nonfiction, and a nominee for the 2008 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids.

“Many of Peter Sís’s readers were not yet born when ‘the wall came down’. His brilliant autobiographical picture-book deserves to become a minor classic, keeping in the collective memory a shameful period of history which must never be forgotten.”— Sir Tom Stoppard, British playwright, and screenwriter

“Peter Sís’s book is most of all about the will to live one’s life in freedom and should be required reading for all those who take their freedom for granted.” —Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic

The Gallery is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00PM - 6:00PM

Masks and proof of vaccination are required to enter the venue. Photo ID will be checked.

More information: CCNY website

PETER SÍS is an internationally renowned writer of children’s books, illustrator, graphic artist and a creator of animated films. He was born in 1949 in Brno and grew up in Prague. He studied painting and filmmaking at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and the Royal College of Art in London. He went to America in 1982, where he started illustrating for periodicals like The New York Times and soon began writing books.

Sís has received numerous awards for his work all over the world — from the Golden Bear at the Film Festival in Berlin to several medals from the American Library Association (three-time Caldecott Honor winner). He is an eight-time winner of The New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year. He has got two Ragazzi Awards from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Peter Sís was the first children’s book artist to be named a MacArthur Fellow and in 2012 he won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his lifetime work. His animated work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. His artwork can also be found in public spaces, from a mosaic in the New York underground to giant tapestries at Prague, Dublin, and Cape Town airports. Sís lives in New York City area with his family.

THE CZECH CENTER’S mission is to actively promote the Czech Republic by showcasing Czech culture, innovations and creativity in the US. Its program covers visual and performing arts, film, literature, music, architecture, design and fashion, science and social innovations. As well as hosting its own events, the Czech Center offers support for other groups organizing interculture initiatives among Czech and US partners.

The Czech Center also seeks to further enhance cultural relationships between the US and the Czech Republic through curatorial visits, media tours and artistic residencies; helping to generate creative dialogue among artists, scholars, scientists and cultural activists from both countries. The Center promotes instruction of Czech language and provides series of Czech language courses.

The Czech Center, a contributory organization of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened in New York in 1996. The Czech Center is part of a worldwide network of 26 branches across three continents including the Czech Houses in Moscow, Jerusalem and Bratislava. The Czech Center was a founding member of the EUNIC. www.czechcenter.com

The LABYRINT is publishing house, which has a longstanding reputation for high quality standards of publications, focuses on art books, fiction and comics. Imprint Raketa is dedicated to children’s literature.  www.labyrint.net

DOX is the largest independent institution focusing on contemporary art in the Czech Republic, which thanks to a private initiative opened to the public in 2008. A former factory in Prague's Holešovice district that has become an example of cutting-edge contemporary architecture. A program that spans genres, where art, literature, theatre, and music transform everyday experience. Space for critical public discussion on important topics that shape our world. Conviction that things can be done differently. DOX is all this, and more. www.dox.cz