From Golden State to Golden City

photo exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of Frank Gehry's "Tanèící dùm"

from June 24th, 2021 to mid-October, 2021
Front Gallery, Consulate General of the Czech Republic, 10990 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, USA | www.mzv.cz/losangeles/

Quarter a century ago, in June 1996, one of the most noteworthy architectural projects of the 20th century, “Tanèící dùm”, or the “Dancing Building” in the Czech capital of Prague, was completed. Shortly thereafter, the now iconic building, designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Miluniæ, received the prestigious designation of the Best Design of the Year from the Time magazine and became a structure of widespread fame and international significance.

The nickname “Fred and Ginger”, driven from the two towers forming the building’s northern flank, which is also often used. “Fred” is the rigid vertical tower, while “Ginger” is the glass dynamic one. Together, they form the two basic contrasting male and female elements of the concept, recalling the elegance of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. “Though the Czechs had no chance to see the Hollywood movies featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers during the Communist times, such musicals represented their dream of America. And in the new, now democratic Czech Republic, “Tanèící dùm” became one of the first symbols that California, which seemed to be an unattainable dream, became the part of their daily life,” says Jaroslav Olša, Jr., Czech Consul General in Los Angeles. Thank to Frank Gehry and Vlado Miluniæ, the Golden State became the integral part of the Golden City.