Candlelight, piano, and prose: PT Gallery hosts a night of unconventional romance
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Designed for the bohemians, lovers and the dreamers, something is arriving in Dickson this weekend that will inspire you to celebrate love in all its forms.
Perhaps it will be the candlelight. Perhaps it will be the combination of rich wine and soaring music. Or maybe it will be the stories shared on the night that remind attendees of the vulnerable, chaotic nature of one of humanity’s most complex emotions.
As Franz Kafka wrote to Czech journalist Milena Jesenská: “You are the knife I turn inside myself; that is love. That, my dear, is love. I hope that this email will reach you including the images this time.”
In fact, it’s these words that best describe SPRING, LOVE AND KAFKA – an event hosted by PT Gallery’s Petra Jungmanova.
Taking place on Saturday 17 October at Poppyfield Commons, the Czech artist says the event is for those searching for something a little bit different. And while it celebrates the many faces of love, it’s also a heartfelt homage to her home country.
“I’m going to transform the space into a European château,” explains Petra.
“There’s going to be a lot of white fabric, lit candles and a white baby grand piano. There will also be professional musicians playing – one is a Canberra-based pianist and the other is a Czech pianist who was at the opening of the Opera House.”
Performing some of history’s most passionate melodies – and sharing the story behind them – during SPRING, LOVE AND KAFKA, Petra will also be reading the desperate and provocative love letters written by Kafka to Milena.
And while they might be known as some of the most passionate correspondences recorded, she says they are anything but the saccharine prose that may come to mind when you hear the words ‘love letter’.
“It’s sad because it’s this love affair that never became a lived love story for them. They had very limited time together,” Petra explains.
“They are haunting and are about longing with your soul. He found the words and the poetry to capture loneliness, isolation and that deep longing to belong to someone…It’s not meant to be pretty and that’s the beauty of it – the contrast.”
Petra has always been drawn to telling the complex stories of everyday people. Finding connection to strong women – often those hidden by history behind men – her exhibitions and events encourage attendees to slow down, ask questions and follow that spark of human curiosity.
After all, what is art, poetry and music but storytelling in its purest form?
“It’s not meant to be educational. It’s a beautiful opportunity to come and be personal with something done differently. I do want to purposely keep it in a very casual and relaxed setting that’s open to everyone,” says Petra.
PT Gallery’s Petra Jungmanova.
Celebrating all the faces of love, SPRING, LOVE AND KAFKA will also be catered by Petra and allow attendees to BYO.
The event combines her background in cultural restoration and conversation with her passion for the arts (and love of catering). She says that she ensures all PT Gallery events go beyond a traditional exhibition, fusing together food, art and music in a place for the community to meet, connect and celebrate.
The artist, curator and publisher also chose the Dickson site of her pop-up gallery with intention. Regularly showing everything from original artwork and fine-art prints to photography from a range of creatives, she says that the uniqueness of Poppyfield Commons only adds to the experience of attending her gallery.
“I really like the relaxed nature of the space. I think it would be hard to do it in any other gallery setting…because there is such a generous space I can be more playful and creative to make something beautiful,” Petra explains.
“The reason I’m putting such a high-end and intimate event on is that I want to bring my cultural grassroots to Canberra. I come from a place where there is a lot of ‘free’ culture.”
“We are so proud of all the castles and places and churches, but they are alive because they are full of all the exhibitions and concerts. I want to bring this to the suburbs.”
Also publishing a quarterly magazine and podcast of curated stories and hosting workshops, Petra has made it her life’s work to – as Kafka puts it – communicate something incommunicable: humanity.
And by creating a space that living, cultural and immersive, she hopes that people find that and more.
“I’m really proud of my culture, my art and it’s nice to be able to share it,” Petra says.
“It brings me great pleasure to share experiences and provide space for artists…I feel honoured that people trust that they will be nurtured, supported and celebrated.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: SPRING, LOVE AND KAFKA
When: Saturday 17 October, 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Poppyfield Commons, PT. Gallery, Poppyfield Street, Dickson
Tickets + more information: events.humanitix.com/spring-love-and-kafka
