Artist Renata Kudlacek
An interview on what is probably the city’s most beautiful roof terrace
Artist Renata Kudlacek
The interior of The Cloud One Prague is characterised by some extraordinary works of art that have been designed with great attention to detail.
Their creator, mixed-media artist Renata Kudlacek, spoke to The Cloud One CMO Susan Schramm on what is probably the most beautiful roof terrace in the city, with the best view over Prague.
Here she tells us how her collages for the hotel were created and also reveals her personal Prague highlight.
Susan Schramm: A very warm welcome, Renata! And thank you for taking the time to talk to us about The Cloud One Prague, and especially about your art. Your art plays a huge part in shaping the atmosphere of the hotel. How does it feel to have created it and to see it for the first time?
Renata: Absolutely overwhelming. I’d tested it as a mock-up in my studio in Berlin, but when I saw it in its full size for the first time, I was almost in tears. Seeing the finished piece after so many months and so many hours of work is truly overwhelming.
Susan: What went through your mind when you were asked if you’d like to create the art for the hotel?
Renata: Wow! That was the very first thing that sprang to mind. Above all, I thought it was brilliant that you’re supporting the arts through this. I mean, real art and its artists – as opposed to the mass-produced stuff that’s usually hung up for ‘decorative’ purposes. Secondly, the theme of Prague touched me personally. It’s a sort of ‘back to my roots’ for me, and the combination just worked really well.
Susan: Are you originally from Prague?
Renata: I was born not far from here, in Zábřeh. Back then, though, communism was still in power and my sister – who’s 20 years older than me – fled to Germany on her own to stay with relatives. We didn’t see each other for a long time, and it wasn’t until years later that my mum, dad, brother and I also came to Germany. Since then, I’ve lived in London and now in Berlin, so for me, Prague was a sort of homecoming to my old home.
Susan: Prague is, of course, a very emotional city in many ways – above all, naturally, because of its history, which you encounter at every turn here. But then, of course, it has a special significance for you as well. Do you have any tips on what one should see or experience?
Renata: There are the classic spots, of course – like heading up to the castle. And walking across Charles Bridge at 4 or 5 in the morning, because it’s usually completely deserted then, and the atmosphere in summer, just as the sun’s rising, is wonderful. If you can manage to get up that early, that is! Otherwise, I’d recommend anyone hop on a tram and just see where it takes you. Some friends of ours did that recently and were really amazed at how quickly Prague is actually changing. Because everyone knows the city centre, but nobody ever ventures further out. So hop on and see where the tram takes you!
Susan: Yes, there’s plenty to discover outside the Old Town too. Prague is a city with so much to offer anyway: in terms of food, art and history. There’s something to see on every corner here.
Back to your art: how do you go about it when someone asks, ‘Would you like to create some art for our hotel?’
Renata: Well, first of all, I was contacted by your design team. They’d come across my work during their research… And then we got straight into discussing ideas about the sort of direction they were looking for. So, how can we design the reception area, and what kind of art can we incorporate into the rooms? With the ideas and suggestions, you always collaborate a bit. And then, of course, it’s up to the artist themselves to do the creative work.
Susan: So what inspires you? Do you walk around the city thinking, ‘That’s typical of Prague’, or where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?
Renata: I work with collages, which means I’ve been collecting images, photos, drawings and prints – which I produce myself – for years. So, hand-printed works, screen prints, etchings… I’ve built up a huge collection by now. I then use these in various ways in my collages, and the inspiration comes depending on the theme. For the theme of Prague as a city, I came back here, took photos, drew, walked through the city and also looked through old family photos to see if I could find any old motifs. And those were incorporated as well. That’s actually how the process begins. And then, bit by bit, a huge collage is put together – which you can now see in the hotel.
Susan: And it’s truly impressive. It really draws you into the city, which is, of course, always the intention of our hotels. Robert, the hotel manager, put it beautifully: your art essentially builds a bridge into the city – which we can see perfectly from up here on the roof terrace, especially the Prague towers!
Renata: It’s absolutely amazing up here! I can only recommend treating yourself to a glass of wine up here and enjoying the view of Prague – and, of course, the art. (laughs)
Susan: Well, let’s raise a glass to that!
YouTube Video
YouTube Video is not accepted. Please allow cookies to continue.
Pieces of Art
We visited Renata in her studio - this is where the collage art for our hotel is created