events 2009

Michael Jackson visited Prague in September 1996. Photo Marek Smejkal

The World of Pop Icons

Marek Smejkal Photo Exhibiton

When: October 4-30, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: American Center, Tržište 13, Prague 1 (only 30 m below the U.S. Embassy). 1st floor

The American Center is proud to present an exhibition of global music icons by renowned Czech photographer Marek Smejkal. During the whole month of October you can see large scale photographs of such music stars as Michael Jackson, Bono, Kiss, Erasure, Nick Cave or David Bowie from their concerts in Prague over the past twenty years.

„Sex, drugs and fame is just a cliché. For rock´n´roll to really live, in the first place it needs heart and charisma,“ wrote the magazine Travel about Marek Smejkal's photographs.  Smejkal began his career as an amateur photographer over 20 years ago, focusing on unique portraits of international musicians who began to visit the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution. His first major breakthrough came when he photographed legendary American composer and guitarist Frank Zappa during a private meeting with President Vaclav Havel. Smejkal soon received other high profile photography commissions, including the Cure and the Rolling Stones. Today he is one of the Czech Republic's best known photographers. His publication „Face the Music“ is a compilation that spans his illustrious career.