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VOLUME | 20

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ISSUE THEME: ENIGMA The twentieth issue of SOFFA is full of mystery and magic. Join us on a journey to a universe filled with puzzles, experiments, dreams and desires, and unveil the mysteries of our world!

Contents

SOFFA ISSUE 20 IS ALL ABOUT

ENIGMA The mystery-filled SOFFA 20 has two goals: to entertain you with illusions and magical experiments, and to lift the lid on some fascinating and thought-provoking stories. In our regular features on architecture and interiors we unveil the imposing grandeur of Petschek’s Palace, enlighten you with a story of a beautiful old synagogue, and rejoice at a whimsical floating house. Moving on from Czechia, our collage takes you to several forgotten places around the world and beyond. Nature’s harsh beauty is featured in the travel story on the Svalbard archipelago and in the depiction of enigmatic rock reliefs found in Vysočina. The fashion story is a thought-provoking homage to a famous painting by René Magritte, and famous paintings also frame another story in this issue. We can’t forget the utterly Czech puzzle – the hedgehog in a cage – and our gallery of mind-boggling optical illusions. Lastly, you will discover what hides behind mystical masks and the many expressions of the human face, and visit a botanical ‘laboratory’ where you can make your own magical potions!

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Welcome

OUR LITTLE SECRET photo: Alžběta Jungrová | post-production: Jan Gloser

As this issue is about secrets, mysteries and puzzles of all kinds, I would like to share with you, our dear readers, two of our secrets. The first secret represents a milestone for SOFFA, a magazine created in Prague by a Czech editorial team. This, our twentieth issue, is a big first for us because for the first time we are publishing the magazine in two concurrent versions: English and Czech! Great excitement, but also a bit of anxiety abounds as we shepherd this issue to print. After all, seeing the articles printed for the first time in our mother tongue is a wonderful experience. We hope that this great milestone will bring SOFFA closer to those who cannot read the magazine in English or would simply prefer to read it in Czech. What will you find in this issue full of mystery? In our original photo essays we unveil the secrets of the human face and of famous works of art. We introduce you to lost and forgotten places – some with chilling tales – and share stories of people and places that deserve our admiration and respect. In our travel feature we explore the distant Svalbard islands, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, as full of wonder as the rock art found in a flooded quarry in the Czech Republic’s Vysočina [the Highlands] region. Our lighthearted fashion story is the source of the cover photo and we hope it will amuse you as much as it does us. Amusement should also come from our stories dedicated to optical illusions and DIY experiments – just give them a try. And now to the second little secret, hidden in the cipher below. Can you guess what it is?

Adéla Kudrnová | editor in chief

Our little secret is that SOFFA is made up of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . 13 9 12 12 9 15 14 19 15 6 4 15 20 19

Photo Essay

MAGRITTE'S GIRL WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING? EVERYONE HAS SECRETS, FANCIES AND DEVIANCES THEY WISH TO HIDE FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. text & styling: Patrik Florián | make-up and hair: Aleksandra Sidorina | model: Tereza Debnárová dog model: Joris | photo: Alžběta Jungrová

Interior

PETSCHEK PALACE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, THE IMPOSING PALACE REMINDS US OF THE PROMINENT PETSCHEK FAMILY, LARGELY FORGOTTEN IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. text: Tereza Škoulová | photo: Lina Németh

OUR FASCINATION WITH THE PETSCHEK FAMILY BEGAN IN THE CORRIDORS OF THE PETSCHEK PALACE. THEY WERE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST FAMILIES OF POST WORLD WAR I CZECHOSLOVAKIA, YET THEIR NAME IS NOT AS WELL KNOWN AS BAŤA, ŠKODA OR JELÍNEK. THE FOUNDERS OF THE FAMILY EMPIRE, FATHER MOSES AND HIS THREE SONS ISIDOR, JULIUS AND IGNATZ, CONTROLLED AT ONE POINT HALF OF THE EUROPEAN BROWN COAL MINE INDUSTRY AND WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN CZECH BANKING. THEY BUILT A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS IN PRAGUE AND ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM – ONE OF THEM THE BANK HOUSE PETSCHEK AND CO., WHICH IN THE 1920S BECAME A SYMBOL OF THE POWERFUL FAMILY EMPIRE.

Moses Petschek, the founder of the family business, started out as a peddler and a money-lender. Thanks to profitable real estate investments he went on to purchase shares in a coal mine in Most, and from these humble beginnings he and his three sons gradually built a business empire. The older brothers, Isidor the lawyer and Julius the financier, were active in Prague, while Ignatz – the youngest and most successful – focused his business activities in the northern town of Ústí nad Labem. While Ignatz became wealthy through the coal trade, his brothers came to control some of the largest mining companies in Czechia, and they also owned shares in paper, glass and chemical industries. ►

Today the palace houses the Ministry of Industry and Trade and except on rare open days, it is not accessible to the public. Rather a shame, as the Petscheks put great care and thought into its design. The architect Max Spielmann worked with choice materials, evident in the dark wood panelling of the corridors and the imposing stone in a variety of shades that defines the entryway and the adjoining meeting hall. Great attention was also paid to small details – the door handles, window latches and door hinges are beautifully refined. The building was cooled with an internal air condition system and had a paternoster lift, which functions to this day. The metal doors of the lift were built in the 1950s and were designed to fit seamlessly with the building’s original décor. ■

Decor

OBSCURED FROM VIEW THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT A PAINTING TELLS A STORY. BUT SOMETIMES THE PAINTING ITSELF BECOMES PART OF A DRAMA THAT IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Lina Németh

THE ALLURE OF A GREAT PAINTING, PAINSTAKINGLY CRAFTED IN A STUDIO OR IN THE OPEN AIR, CAN ALWAYS BE ENHANCED WITH A GOOD STORY. ALL YOU NEED IS A CRIME OF PASSION, A CATASTROPHE, OR THE PLAYFUL WHIM OF AN ARTIST WANTING TO COMMUNICATE A DEEPER MEANING. MIX IN A BIT OF LOVE AND ROMANCE, A THEME SO INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND THE RESULTING MYSTERY CAN LEAD TO IMAGINATIVE, ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE STORIES – NOT TO MENTION CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

There is a long list of priceless works of art that have become lost from public view, unlikely to be seen again. In most cases they have been stolen, their canvasses cleverly hidden. But sometimes they have been simply ‘tucked away’ and are patiently waiting to be admired by the public once more. Such was the case with Picasso’s painting Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, which returned into public view after sixty years and was immediately valued as one of the most expensive paintings in the world. Throughout the ages war has played with the fate of many works of art. Often captured as prized spoils of war, valuable art pieces were taken from one winning side to another or hidden in secret locations until peacetime. It is therefore not surprising that in the flux of hostilities that have marked much of our history some priceless works have become lost. This was true for a collection of some 1,400 paintings and drawings found just a few years ago near Munich in the flat of an unassuming older gentleman. The collection included works by Chagall, Matisse and Courbet that had been confiscated by the Nazis at the start of World War II and were believed to have been destroyed in the bombing of Dresden. Returning the confiscated pieces to the descendants of their rightful owners will surely result in another fascinating chapter of the drama surrounding this incredible treasure trove. Other paintings, like Botticelli’s beautiful Primavera, were graced with intrigue at the time of their creation. While at first glance the painting appears to be a celebration of female beauty and a tribute to the bounty of spring, some believe that Primavera contains clues about a plot against the powerful Medici family. Others think that the painting is an attempt to reconcile in one image the ideals of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, an idea promoted by Neoplatonist intellectuals at the Medici court. Another intriguing, albeit more whimsical painting is The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. A masterpiece of perspective, the painting includes a convex mirror revealing the backs of the painted couple. With the help of a magnifying glass the painter himself can be seen hiding in the mirror, greeting observant viewers with his raised hand. ■

BEAUTY REVEALED FRANCISCO DE GOYA PAINTED THE YOUNG WOMAN RECLINING ON PILLOWS IN TWO VERSIONS: ONE IN THE NUDE AND ONE FULLY CLOTHED. THE CHURCH CONSIDERED THE FIRST VERSION TO BE INDECENT AND REQUIRED THAT THE ARTIST ‘CORRECT’ HIS INDISCRETION WITH THE SECOND VERSION. MANUEL DE GODOY, THE FIRST OWNER OF THE PAINTINGS, HAD THE CLOTHED VERSION DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE NUDE AND WHEN DESIRED, THE NUDE WAS REVEALED WITH THE HELP OF A PULLEY. Francisco de Goya | The Nude Maja, 1797–1800; The Clothed Maja, 1800–1805

LEFT: What can inspire a new notebook? A bad day for example! The cover of a notebook tellingly called Words was created by Jiří’s wife Petra on a day when everything went wrong. So she grabbed a cup of tea and wrote it all down. Petra’s hands create all other young_block products, as she is behind their beautifully crafted binding.

Editors’ Choice

SPRING NOVELTIES THE LATEST COLLECTION OF FURNITURE, ACCESSORIES, COSMETICS AND CLOTHING EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF PASTELS – FROM PINK ALL THE WAY TO TURQUOISE! styling: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: company archives

ABOVE: Mizaru sunglasses, Zanzan, zanzan.co.uk and Butik Klára Nademlýnská, 5,750 Kč | Circé doorhandle, design by Bonnemazou-Cambus, www.monobrand.cz, € 160 | Blush 2 in 1 Lips & Cheeks, Douglas Collection, www.douglas.cz, 279 Kč | Hybrid Perenzia rug, design Ctrlzak, www.seletti.it, price upon request

RIGHT: Head outside for relaxed meals and spend long days at the beach. Casual tropical island living sets the stage for H&M Home this summer with turquoise shades, bohemian details and natural materials. The summer 2017 collection: metal lantern, € 14.99 | cup, € 7.99 | pillow case, € 7.99 www.hm.com

LEFT AND BELOW: The new SS 2017 Bloomingville collection is inspired by Japanese design traditions with passion for craftsmanship and simple detail. Retro is also back with ever more stunning reinterpretations of classical patterns and signature glazes. www.bloomingville.com Afteroom bar table, Menu, menudesignshop.com, $ 880

SECRET CHAMBER EVEN A CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR CAN CONVEY THE ATMOSPHERE OF A SECRET CHAMBER, WHERE ALL YOUR DREAMS AND DESIRES WILL BE FULFILLED. ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF BLACK AND A SPLASH OF GOLD. styling: Adéla Kudrnová & Helena Novotná | photo: company archives

Ecstasy classic tassel leather loafers, eodstyle.com, $ 425 | lipstick from Douglas Collection, www.douglas.cz, 299 Kč | Alba lounge armchair, www.ton.eu, € 1,599 | Lion metal candle holder, www.hm.com, $ 17.99 | Venus balls, Bitcoin Limited Edition, whoopdedoo.me, B 0.09018 | Cast vase, House Doctor, www.royaldesign.fr, € 32 | Chipolo plus connected keychain, www.merci-merci.com, € 35

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SPRING/SUMMER 17

*Where you will ďŹ nd us: BOSS STORE Na Prikope 6, Prague BOSS STORE Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, terminal 1 a 2

Creative People

WHAT IS HÆNKE? A NEW CREATIVE SPACE IN PRAGUE NAMED AFTER A CZECH BOTANIST AND EXPLORER WHO LIVED AT THE TURN OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. text: Helena Novotná | photo: Adéla Havelková

Travel

LAND OF DAY AND NIGHT AFTER LAPLAND, FÅRÖ AND ICELAND WE RETURN ONCE AGAIN TO THE NORTH. THIS TIME EVEN FURTHER THAN BEFORE – TO THE ARCTIC DESERT CALLED SVALBARD. text: Helena Novotná | photo: Jan Kaiser, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

HALFWAY BETWEEN NORWAY AND THE NORTH POLE IS THE NORTHERNMOST PERMANENTLY INHABITED PLACE ON OUR PLANET. THE SVALBARD ARCHIPELAGO LIES IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN WITHIN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT EXPERIENCES A FEW MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS AND A FEW MONTHS OF COMPLETE SUNLIGHT. WHO WOULD LIVE IN SUCH A PLACE? AND WHAT IS IT LIKE TO LIVE ON LAND THAT IS MORE GLACIER THAN NOT, AND WHERE POLAR BEARS OUTNUMBER PEOPLE?

Icelandic literature from the twelfth century makes reference to Svalbard, but the discovery of the archipelago is credited to the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz, who sighted its coast in 1596. He named it Spitsbergen for the pointed mountains he saw on the horizon, not realising that he had discovered not just an island, but an entire archipelago. Although Spitsbergen is its traditional name, in the 1920s the archipelago’s name changed to Svalbard – meaning ‘cold shore’ – and the name Spitsbergen is now reserved for the largest, and the only permanently settled island. The name change came after Norway gained sovereignty over the archipelago following the signing of the Svalbard Treaty. Although administered by Norway, the archipelago has a special status and anyone can live and work in Svalbard without special permission or visa. As would then be expected, Svalbard is very diverse culturally, with more than forty different nationalities represented in a total population of 2,500! Another important aspect of the treaty is that other countries, not just Norway, can use and exploit the archipelago’s mineral resources, in particular its black coal. Russia has taken advantage of this provision and that is why Svalbard feels like two independent worlds, one Norwegian and one Russian. There were times when Russians accounted for two-thirds of Svalbard’s population. Today about 500 people live in the Russian area, most of them miners originating from the Ukraine. They all live in Barentsburg, the only Russian mining settlement left from the original three. The other two were Grumant, where only two dilapidated houses now stand, and Pyramiden, a settlement that once housed more than a thousand ► RIGHT AND PREVIOUS SPREAD: The Arctic archipelago known officially as Svalbard lies approximately 1,000 km from the North Pole. Life is not easy there and those who choose to call it their home must work. Unemployment is zero per cent and the local administration counts on nothing else. There are still work opportunities in the mining industry and more recently also in tourism.

MASK OF A WOMAN BENIN | LATE NINETEENTH / EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY

WHEN THE YORUBA PEOPLE WANT TO BRING ON THE RAIN, ENSURE FERTILITY OR ERADICATE DISEASE, THEY ANNOUNCE THE START OF GELEDE – A MASKED RITUAL TO HONOUR GODDESSES AND RESPECTED LOCAL WOMEN. OLDER WOMEN IN PARTICULAR ARE REVERED AMONG THE YORUBA – THEIR AGE SYMBOLISING MYSTICAL POWERS, SECRET KNOWLEDGE AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH. WOMEN ARE CELEBRATED AS THE BEARERS OF THE ‘SECRET OF THE ORIGIN’, MAGICAL BEINGS WITH THE POWER TO CREATE AND DESTROY. DURING GELEDE ELABORATELY COSTUMED DANCERS MOVE THROUGH THE NIGHT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THESE WOMEN AND TO APPEASE THEM IN THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL USE THEIR POWERS ONLY FOR GOOD. ‚

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MASK FROM THE SEPIK RIVER PAPUA NEW GUINEA | NINETEENTH CENTURY

PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS A WORLD ONTO ITSELF – ITS INHABITANTS SPEAK MORE THAN 900 LANGUAGES AND EACH OF THE MANY CULTURAL GROUPS REVERES ITS OWN DEITIES AND CREATES UNIQUE FORMS OF ART. MASKS MADE BY PEOPLE LIVING ALONG THE LOWER REACHES OF THE SEPIK RIVER ARE USUALLY DECORATED WITH RED PIGMENT. NOT ALL ARE INTENDED TO BE WORN BY THEIR CREATORS – SOME ADORN THE BOWS OF CANOES WHILE OTHERS SERVE AS GOOD LUCK CHARMS. ONLY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN INITIATED ARE ALLOWED TO WEAR MASKS DURING RITUALS. WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY FORBIDDEN TO WEAR MASKS BUT MUST HIDE FROM THEM, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING USED FOR THEIR RITUAL PURPOSE.

IN THE LAST ISSUE WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING THE ARTIST SILVIE LUBĚNOVÁ, ALIAS MAESTROKATASTROF, AND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES WE PROUDLY FEATURE THE RESULT OF THE WORKSHOP WE HOSTED WITH HER. PARTICIPANTS AT THE WORKSHOP GOT THEIR HANDS ON CZECH PORCELAIN FROM DUBÍ AND UNDER THE MAESTRA‘S SKILFUL ORCHESTRATION THEY CREATED THE MOST ORIGINAL DINNER SET IN THE WORLD – AT LEAST IN OUR OPINION! WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT? A LOT! LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AT WWW.SOFFAMAG.COM

Photo Essay

MYSTERIES OF THE FACE BEAUTY, SENSUALITY, DESIRE: DISCOVER THE ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN FACE WITH THE PERFUMERY DOUGLAS. partner for the article: Douglas | text: Tereza Škoulová | make-up: Aleksandra Sidorina models: Jacqueline Amadou Titi and Barbora Procházková / Scouteen post-production: Kristýna Gottwaldová | photo: Lucie Desmond

THE FACE IS ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY. THE SOFT SKIN HIDES FOURTEEN BONES, FOUR PAIRS OF CAVITIES AND FORTY-THREE MUSCLES, TWELVE OF WHICH ARE NEEDED TO MAKE A SMILE. THE FACE IS KEY TO IDENTIFICATION, REVEALS OUR GENDER, RACE AND AGE, AND COMMUNICATES COMPLEX HUMAN EMOTION. LEARNING FACE RECOGNITION IS ONE OF OUR FIRST DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES, AND WHEN THIS ABILITY DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A CONDITION CALLED PROSOPAGNOSIA, THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED MUST USE VOICE TO TELL PEOPLE APART.

A person’s face tells a lot about the character that hides behind it and about the person’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines use the face as a key diagnostic tool, and even Western medicine uses certain facial attributes to diagnose some ailments. The face can reveal a lot – that a person is suffering from a fever or a cold, or that he or she imbibes or frowns too much! Thanks to its ability to reveal and conceal, the face has featured in mythological and religious iconography since the dawn of time. Favoured in art and literature, it is often explored in the juxtaposition of a beautiful face attached to a corrupt soul. The face is also an important tool of nonverbal communication – every wrinkled nose, raised eyebrow and perked ear has its distinct meaning. Besides its ability to express thoughts and feelings, the face is also the centre of four senses: sight, hearing, smell and taste. Sight is such an important element of perception that it requires half of the brain’s capacity to function, causing eye muscles to be the most active muscles in the human body. Hearing helps us communicate, learn and gain experiences, and the hearing organ is also the centre of our balance. Smell is the oldest and most sensitive of the senses. People can recognise as many as 5,000 scents – men apparently love the smell of breakfast while women prefer the scent of a newborn – and out of all the senses people remember a scent the best. Smell is also key to taste, for when you cannot smell food, you also cannot taste it. And although we ‘experience’ taste in the mouth, the sense is actually the result of neural processes in the brain. People have been adorning themselves since time immemorial, highlighting their best features and detracting from their flaws. Women have always been more forward about make-up than men, guided by the belief that even natural beauty can be enhanced. Join us and the perfumery Douglas on a journey to uncover the mystery behind the beauty of a woman’s face. ■

CHEEKS – BLUSH | MAKEUP FROM THE DOUGLAS COLLECTION | WWW.DOUGLAS.CZ: eye shadow base primer, 259 Kč; Power of Light foundation, 469 Kč; Mini All In One Nude eye shadow palette, 419 Kč; foundation contouring palette, 369 Kč; Aquarelle Powder cheek rouge, 449 Kč; redness corrector brightener, 469 Kč; Cotton Candy hand cream, 109 Kč; Aqua Focus facial water, 419 Kč; lipbalm, 139 Kč; Tutu nail polish, 129 Kč; medium brown eyebrow pencil, 239 Kč; Mattissim Senorita, Lechapee Ted and Libertine Smile lip gloss, 279 Kč; facial gel cream, 559 Kč; White is White eye pencil, 199 Kč; Pinky Light corrector, 379 Kč

NOSE – SMELL | MAKEUP FROM THE DOUGLAS COLLECTION | WWW.DOUGLAS.CZ: eye shadow base primer, 259 Kč; Power of Light foundation, 469 Kč; Mini All In One Nude eye shadow palette, 419 Kč; foundation contouring palette, 369 Kč; Aquarelle Powder cheek rouge, 449 Kč; redness corrector brightener, 469 Kč; Cotton Candy hand cream, 109 Kč; Aqua Focus facial water, 419 Kč; lipbalm, 139 Kč; Tutu nail polish, 129 Kč; Mattissim Libertine Smile lip gloss, 279 Kč; facial gel cream, 559 Kč; White is White eye pencil, 199 Kč; Pinky Light corrector, 379 Kč; Khol Kajal Ultra Wonderblack eye pencil, 279 Kč

THIS SPREAD: What is it? What hides inside? And how do you get up there? The little black house hovers mysteriously in the air, offering to reveal its secrets only to the playful and adventurous amongst us.

THIS PAGE: Moving optical illusions make us see a moving picture when the eye is actually looking at a static image, because the movement is created in our brain. The above image is similar to the famous moving picture known as Rotating Snakes by the Japanese professor of psychology Akiyoshi Kitaoka.

DIY Magic

THE SOFFA LABORATORY CHEMISTRY IS AN ENTERTAINING, MYSTERIOUS AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS SCIENCE. IF YOU ARE INTRIGUED BY CHEMISTRY, YOU CAN FEED YOUR CURIOSITY RIGHT AT HOME. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES WE PRESENT THE MOST FUN EXPERIMENTS! text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Adéla Havelková

LAVA LAMP MAKE YOUR OWN LAVA LAMP AND BE MESMERISED BY A COLOURFUL BUBBLE DANCE. WHERE DO THEY COME FROM AND WHY DO THEY RISE TO THE TOP? A GREAT EXPERIMENT EXPLORING THE DENSITY OF LIQUIDS!

DIFFICULTY: simple TIME: 3 minutes to prepare 3 minutes to play WHAT YOU NEED: oil vinegar (8% acetic acid) sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) food colouring jar or another translucent container small cup spoon

THE EXPERIMENT: Pour one tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate into the container and fill the rest with oil. In the small cup, colour the vinegar with food colouring and then add a total of one tablespoon of the coloured vinegar to the container. Now watch the chemical reaction, which resembles what happens in a lava lamp: the vinegar reacts with the baking soda and creates carbon dioxide (CO₂). Carbon dioxide coats the vinegar drops and thereby lowers their average density, making them rise to the top. Vinegar and oil don’t mix, which is why oil is a good medium to demonstrate how the vinegar bubbles rise slowly to the top. Once the bubbles reach the surface, carbon dioxide releases into the air and the freed vinegar sinks back to the bottom because its density is now higher than the density of oil. ►

LEFT: Pineapple jar, design by Tadeáš Podracký, Cihelna Concept Store Prague, 15,800 Kč | Little Joseph suricate, design by Antonín Tomášek, eshop.qubus.cz, 1,780 Kč | wine decanter, stylist’s own

DRY ICE FOG ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF YOUR NEXT PARTY WITH SOME HOMEMADE FOG! IT’S VERY SIMPLE AND VERY EFFECTIVE – ALL YOU NEED IS SOME DRY ICE AND WATER. BUT BE CAREFUL WITH FROSTBITE, VENTILATION AND STORAGE!

DIFFICULTY: medium (caution needed to prevent frostbite) TIME: 5 minutes to prepare 15 minutes to play WHAT YOU NEED: dry ice hot water plastic or glass container ladle towel

THE EXPERIMENT: Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2) with a temperature of less than -78.5 °C, which is why you must handle it carefully to avoid frostbite! Interestingly, at -78.5 °C dry ice sublimates from a solid to a gas without going through an intermediate liquid state. You can find dry ice at www.partyled.cz or www.linde-gas. cz. You will need a special box for transport. With a ladle put some dry ice into a bowl. We recommend you put a towel under your bowl because once you start to sublimate the dry ice, condensation could dampen the surface under the bowl. Gently pour hot water over the dry ice. We recommend about two litres of water for two kilograms of dry ice. The water should be just hot, not boiling. When the hot water makes contact with the ice, the ice will begin to sublimate, creating a mysterious fog. Caution: To avoid frostbite, do not touch the dry ice with your bare hands. ■

LEFT: Glass City, design by Michaela Tomišková | DOX by Qubus, 48,000 Kč | Bandaska vase, design by Dechem, DOX by Qubus, 5,100 Kč, Ceremony candle holder, www.butlers.cz, 119 Kč

THONIS-HERACLEION, EGYPT THE ANCIENT CITY OF HERACLEION HIDES BENEATH THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA OFF THE COAST OF EGYPT. THE SUBJECT OF MANY ANCIENT STORIES, HERACLEION WAS NAMED AFTER THE GREEK DIVINE HERO HERACLES AND SERVED AS THE SEAT OF MANY PHARAOHS. THE FORMER TRADE AND TAX COLLECTION POWER CENTRE SUCCUMBED TO THE SEA AROUND THE EIGHTH CENTURY AD, AND WAS REDISCOVERED ONLY IN THE YEAR 2000.

The port city of Heracleion – known also by the original Egyptian name Thonis – was built around the 8th century BC and in its heyday harboured almost every ship that made the voyage between Greece and Egypt. Heracleion was chronicled in the 5th century BC by the ancient historian Herodotus, who described a great temple built on the spot where the divine hero Heracles, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, first stepped onto Egyptian soil. According to legend, Heracleion also harboured Helen of Troy and her lover Paris while they were fleeing her jealous husband, the Spartan king Menelaus. The city was veiled in mystery once lost to the sea and for years was believed to be nothing more than a legend. Only in 2000 did the French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and a team of Egyptian scientists discover the ruins of the ancient city, hidden beneath the dark waters for more than 1,200 years. The unveiling of the great metropolis continues to this day, and in spite of the incredible treasure trove found amidst its ruins, including well-preserved statues, stone inscriptions, anchors, jewellery and coins, the reason for the city’s submersion remains a mystery. Current thinking is that natural catastrophes weakened the unstable sediment on which the city had been built, and the last of these – a great earthquake – submerged the city forever. ►

140

INTERNATIONAL SUN-EARTH EXPLORER-3 (ISEE-3), OUTER SPACE THE ISEE-3 SPACE PROBE HAS BEEN ORBITING IN OUTER SPACE FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS. OVER THIS TIME IT HAS COMPLETED SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS AND ACHIEVED SEVERAL COSMIC ‘FIRSTS’. IT MET HALLEY’S COMET, FOR EXAMPLE, AND EVEN BECAME A CYBERSPACE STAR. ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN’T HAD CONTACT WITH THE PROBE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, ONE DAY ITS ORBIT IS BOUND TO BRING IT CLOSE AGAIN TO ITS NATIVE EARTH.

The International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3) space probe was launched into space in 1978 under a joint programme of NASA and the European Space Research Organisation. Orbiting at a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth, it was the first space probe tasked with studying the interaction between the Earth’s magnetic field and the flow of solar wind. After completing its first mission, ISEE-3 was renamed in 1982 as the International Comet Explorer (ICE) and began to study comets. The probe’s final mission ended in May 1997 and NASA suspended the ICE project by leaving only a carrier signal operational. Brief contact was established in 1999 to verify that the signal was still online, and nine years later new technologies revealed that all but one of its 13 functions were still operational. And so emerged the incredible idea to reboot the probe and return it to the original mission during its 2014 approach to Earth. Space research enthusiasts supported the idea by raising nearly 160,000 US Dollars through crowdfunding, and ICE became an internet star. While the reboot team was successful in establishing contact with the probe in May 2014, they were not able to return it to its original mission, and contact was lost four months later. The errant space probe continues on its silent orbit and will near the Earth again in 2031. It is a mystery as to whether it will speak to us again, or if its epic journey will ever end. ■

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Interior

THE JEWISH STAR OF ÚŠTĚK STORY OF A SYNAGOGUE RENOVATED AS PART OF THE TEN STARS PROJECT TASKED TO CREATE REGIONAL CULTURAL CENTRES THAT CELEBRATE THE CZECH REPUBLIC’S JEWISH HERITAGE. text: Hana Švolbová | photo: Lina Németh

JEWISH CULTURE HAS FOR CENTURIES BEEN AN INSEPARABLE PART OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN HISTORY. IN THE MIDDLE AGES JEWISH PEOPLE COULD ONLY SETTLE IN DESIGNATED AREAS, LEADING TO THE CREATION OF JEWISH QUARTERS. AFTER EXPULSION FROM THE SO-CALLED ‘ROYAL CITIES’ IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, JEWISH PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO CLUSTER IN SMALLER TOWNS, AND ONLY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY WERE THEY ABLE TO SETTLE FREELY. THE HOLOCAUST SEVERED THE DEVELOPMENT OF JEWISH CULTURE IN CZECHIA AND LEFT MANY JEWISH QUARTERS DEVOID OF THEIR ORIGINAL RESIDENTS.

The town of Úštěk is the smallest heritage reservation in Czechia, but it is full of intriguing sites. One of these is the Úštěk synagogue, built in the late eighteenth century in the Classicist style on the site of a former Jewish school. The tower-like structure standing on a square foundation is unique in the Czech Republic, and its position on top of a rock promontory allows it to be viewed from afar. The interior is decorated with Moorish and Neo-Renaissance motifs, and the basement features the original vaulted classroom and teacher’s quarters. After the occupation of the Sudeten region in 1938, most of Úštěk’s Jewish community fled to Prague. Some went abroad, while others perished in Nazi extermination camps. The building itself was not greatly damaged during the war, but the same cannot be said of the interior furnishings. The synagogue deteriorated over the ensuing years, and at one point was slated for demolition. In 1993 it was rescued by the Federation of Jewish Communities and renovated in two stages. As none of the pre-war Jewish residents had returned to Úštěk, the renovated synagogue could no longer serve its religious purpose and was transformed into a cultural centre. A permanent exhibition dedicated to Jewish education opened in 2014. While many people have a broad understanding of Judaism, they may not know about the unique system of Jewish education. The permanent exhibition sheds light on this fascinating aspect of Jewish culture, presenting it through a historical lens. Visitors will learn about education in the Jewish community as far back as the Biblical times, and how important it was in the Terezin concentration camp – to the point that people risked their lives to educate their children. Today the synagogue serves as a concert hall and gallery. During our visit the photographs of Zdeňek Zrůst were on display. ■ For more information go to 10hvezd.cz/cs/objekt/ustek/ or www.synagoga-ustek.cz

Gallery

WHEN STONE SPEAKS

‘STONE PERMEATES WITH LIFE. IT PUSHES TOWARDS THE LIGHT SO THAT IT MAY SING, BURNS THROUGH SHAPES AND TONES, DESIRES TO BE HEARD AND SEEN.’ – KAREL SCHULZ, STONE AND PAIN text: Helena Novotná | photo: Adéla Havelková

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MONUMENTAL, UNEXPECTED, FORGED WITH NATURE. ROCK RELIEFS ARE A SPECIAL FORM OF ART – SOMETHING BETWEEN A STATUE AND LAND ART, MADE BOTH BY THE HUMAN HAND AND BY NATURE. THE TRIPTYCH OF ROCK RELIEFS FOUND IN A WOODLAND NEAR LIPNICE NAD SÁZAVOU WAS COMPLETED BY THE CZECH SCULPTOR RADOMÍR DVOŘÁK IN 2007. TAKE A WALK ALONG THE YELLOW-MARKED TRAILS AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. THE STONE EAR, EYES, AND MOUTH AWAIT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO GO IN SEARCH OF THEM.

The first rock relief in the triptych is the so-called Bretschneider’s Ear. Created by Radomír Dvořák and a group of stonemasons, the giant, anatomically precise ear floats on a large rock face above a flooded quarry. It was named after the character of a police detective in the famous Czech comedy novel The Good Soldier Švejk written by Jaroslav Hašek, who died in Lipnice nad Sázavou and whose grandson Richard is the patron of the rock triptych. Hašek’s typical humour is echoed in the work’s sub-title – Monument to National Eavesdropping. The second relief created by the team is Mouth, another beautifully rendered symbol of communication. The halfopened women’s lips are almost two metres wide, and a hand can be inserted into the mouth as far as the forearm, just as Audrey Hepburn did in the famous scene from Roman Holiday. The Lipnice Mouth was indeed inspired by the famous Mouth of Truth [La Bocca della Verità], but liars need not worry about loosing their hands in the Czech version. The triptych is complete with Golden Eyes, the symbol of sight. The gilded eyes framed in a simple-line triangle recall traditional representations of the Eye of Providence. ■

THIS SPREAD: To get up close to the reliefs you need a winter cold enough to freeze the waters of the flooded quarry. On thick ice you can almost touch the Golden Eyes and the Mouth, as they have been carved close to the level of the water. Bretschneider’s Ear was placed several metres higher, so the only way to ‘eavesdrop’ is from the opposite end of the quarry.

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PUBLISHER

Adéla Kudrnová I editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová I art director & designer lenka@soffamag.com Yasmin Keshmiri Hejduk I creative editor yasmin@soffamag.com

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Lina Németh I photographer lina@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková I photographer & graphic designer adela.h@soffamag.com Róbert Kováč I graphic designer robert@soffamag.com Helena Stiessová I managing editor editor@soffamag.com Helena Novotná I editor & editorial office assistant helena@soffamag.com Patrik Florián I editor & fashion stylist patrik@soffamag.com

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