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As the heroine of a detective story

Mgr. Pavla Sv铆tkov谩 — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:04:26 +0000

As the heroine of a detective story Mgr. Pavla Sv铆tkov谩 Fri, 12/06/2024 - 09:04

From a young age, Mark茅ta Svobodov谩 dreamed of becoming a detective or working in a lab. Now a student at the Faculty of Restoration, her childhood aspirations have come to life in an unexpected way. When a long-forgotten, mysterious painting surfaced, Mark茅ta wasn't just tasked with restoring it 鈥� she also uncovered the identity and beauty of the young girl immortalised on its canvas.

Initially, Mark茅ta knew very little about the painting. It dated back to the late 19th century, and its artist was unknown. For decades, the piece had languished in the archives of Olomouc, hidden beneath layers of dirt and dust. Humidity and improper storage had taken their toll. "It was in terrible condition," Mark茅ta recounts. "It looks like it had been standing in water for some time, which affected all its components 鈥� the decorative frame, the fabric, and the paint layer, which had suffered significant losses." Even the wooden supports bore signs of damage. To make matters worse, the painting had been struck by something heavy, leaving holes and several long cracks. Despite its sorry state, Mark茅ta was captivated from the start. "The girl in the painting is beautiful. Her mysterious gaze immediately drew me in, as if she were trying to tell me something," she shares. Those haunting eyes accompanied her through countless early mornings and long evenings. Little did she know how far this unknown girl would lead her.

When was the last time you saw the painting?

About three days before the end of the exhibition. We created the exhibition to share the painting's story, and I gave guided tours at the museum in Olomouc, walking visitors through our journey together.

Do you miss it?

I did spend a lot of time with it, so in a way, I do. Restoring it was an incredible experience 鈥� one I'll never forget. I was fortunate in every way to have had the opportunity to work on it.

How did the painting end up in your hands?

It became the focus of my bachelor's thesis. My supervisor had two paintings lined up for me and a classmate to choose from. We both wanted this one! To be fair, we decided to draw lots (laughs). First, we played rock-paper-scissors to see who would go first 鈥� and I won! My classmate ended up with the other painting, and I got my dream project.

Did you know?

The story of the painting was so extraordinary that it inspired an exhibition titled Sister, which was showcased at the Regional Museum in Olomouc. The exhibition was a great success, and there is a possibility it may travel to other venues in the future. It captivated audiences not only with the intricate and meticulous restoration process but also with the almost detective-like journey of uncovering the painting's story. This journey led the student to identify the girl in the painting and piece together the broader context of her family history. "Being part of this incredible process has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience," says Mark茅ta Svobodov谩, the student behind the restoration. Currently in the second year of her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Restoration in Litomy拧l, Mark茅ta also teaches at a Primary Art School and continues to pursue her own artistic projects.

How did it all begin?

When the painting first came into my hands, it was in a terrible state. I knew the restoration process would be challenging. My first step was to take swabs from the painting for microbiological analysis to check for any infections. There's always a chance that something harmful could be lurking beneath the layers of dirt and dust. Luckily, no mould was detected.

What came next?

Next was a detailed photographic documentation process, an essential part of any restoration research. It helps us uncover important details about the artwork. Using imaging techniques, I photographed the painting under various types of light: daylight, ultraviolet, and infrared. The final step involved an X-ray examination.

What did the survey reveal?

The non-invasive analysis provided valuable insights into the painting's materials and structure. For example, it showed that the artist used pigments with metallic compounds. When pigments contain heavy metal-based substances, they create a strong glow under X-rays. Seeing the whites light up so vividly, I immediately recognised the use of lead white. In addition to this, invasive methods were used, such as taking microscopic samples from the painting. These samples revealed more about the binders, pigments, and the intricate layers that make up the artwork.

Why is all this necessary?

To gather as much information as possible about the painting. This knowledge allowed me to create a comprehensive restoration plan. From a research perspective, the painting was incredibly fascinating, offering many unique insights into its creation and history.

Were you surprised by anything revealed in the survey?

The biggest surprise came when I used ultraviolet light. Suddenly, text appeared on the reverse side of the painting. It was faintly visible in daylight but completely illegible. After some graphic adjustments, the text became clear 鈥� and there it was, written in German.

What did it say?

"Pauline Keszler, born in Lo拧tice in Moravia, sister of the painter of historical paintings Jos. Keszler in Vienna, painted in Lo拧tice 1850..."

That must have been a significant clue!

It was huge! I was running around the faculty, telling everyone with so much excitement (laughs). This discovery prompted me to delve deeper into Josef Kessler, the painter mentioned in the text. I scoured various sources, but there wasn't much information about him in the literature. Then, I stumbled upon a book specifically about him. It was written by an Austrian priest, Hans Klinger, who was a devoted admirer of Kessler's work.

Where did the book lead you?

The book detailed Josef Kessler's life and mentioned that he had five brothers. But the painting clearly depicted a woman. What puzzled me was that there was no mention of a sister anywhere in the book. This made me question if the translation of the text was wrong.

Was it?

No, the translation was correct. But the lack of any reference to a sister didn't make sense, so I turned to 19th-century records from Lo拧tice, where Josef Kessler was born. I started combing through the registers to see if a daughter had been born into his family. It was tough 鈥� the records were handwritten in German cursive, and I was exhausted. The lines blurred together as I read them over and over. All I kept finding were mentions of his brothers. And then, suddenly, there it was. I can still picture it (laughs).

You found the missing sister!

Yes! It was 2:37 in the morning when I saw Pauline Kessler's name in the register. At first, I thought I was dreaming. I was so tired I closed the book, but when I looked again in the morning, it was still there (laughs).

How did it feel?

I was both thrilled and stunned. It was a monumental moment 鈥� not just for the painting but also for the historical record. I had disproved a detail in the book and uncovered the existence of a sister who had been completely overlooked. It was incredible to think that Pauline Kessler had finally been found after all these years.

Didn't the restoration take a backseat because of your search for the painter's history?

I couldn't afford for that to happen! Restoring the painting was the subject of my bachelor's thesis, and I had to complete both the restoration and the research on time (laughs). The additional research came later.

What did you enjoy most about restoring the painting?

From the very beginning, I aimed to restore the painting as a whole, which included the decorative gilded frame. That wasn't a typical part of my bachelor's studies, so it was both a challenge and a chance to learn new techniques. Once I cleaned off the thickest layers of dust and dirt, I removed the painting from the decorative frame and stretcher to access the underlying layers. That's when I discovered that the central scene had been painted on paper, surrounded by and backed with fabric. The entire piece was supported by an additional layer of fabric on the reverse.

What restoration procedures did you perform?

I focused on preserving as many original fragments as possible, adjusting my approach accordingly. First, I worked to even out the surface and straighten the edges. I reinforced the paper backing with Japanese paper to mend the holes and cracks. Once the general repairs were complete, I added a new canvas backing to stabilise the entire piece. Next, I turned to the colour layer. I tested the solubility of the old varnish and began thinning it. As I worked, the original colours started to emerge 鈥� vivid and breathtaking. Over time, varnish yellows and darkens, so removing it brought the painting back to life. The colours were stunning Finally, I used a blending imitative retouch technique to restore the areas where paint was missing, seamlessly integrating them with the rest of the artwork. Once everything was complete, I reassembled the painting, including its gilded frame. Seeing it restored to its full beauty was incredibly rewarding.

What is particularly important when restoring such a work?

The key is to restore it without causing any harm to the original. Every intervention I made had to be both aesthetically acceptable and as reversible as possible. This means that if someone in the future decides my work isn't suitable, they should be able to undo it without damaging the original painting.

When did you realise the painting might be included in an exhibition?

During the restoration process, as I uncovered more about the identity of the girl in the painting, it became clear that the work could serve as the centrepiece of an exhibition. This added an extra layer of responsibility to the restoration. While I could have taken a purely conservative approach, the potential for an exhibition made it crucial to also restore the painting's aesthetic value. It was an amazing opportunity to undertake a more comprehensive restoration that could be shared with the public.

Did you eventually uncover the entire history of the painting?

When I identified the girl in the painting, Michaela 膶adilov谩, the exhibition's curator, became deeply interested in the research. She was just as enthusiastic as I was, and we began working together to trace the painting's history. We were eager to see how far back we could go.

What did you discover?

We learned that the painter, Josef Kessler, didn't have children, but his brothers did. By following their lineage, we found two branches of the family who owned other paintings by him 鈥� artworks we were keen to see.

Did you meet with them?

Yes, we visited one family in Lo拧tice. They shared a wealth of valuable information and were incredibly helpful. It turns out they were the same family Hans Klinger had visited when researching for his publication on Kessler.

Did the other family contribute to the puzzle as well?

They had a painting we were particularly interested in. Klinger's book included a black-and-white photograph of a painting of a girl, and based on the features, we suspected it could be "our" Pauline 鈥� just older.

Was your suspicion confirmed?

When we saw the painting in person, the resemblance was undeniable. The girl in the second painting looked strikingly similar to "our" Pauline. Upon closer inspection, we found Josef Kessler's signature on the painting, along with the year 1860 鈥� exactly ten years after the first painting. I later superimposed photographs of both paintings on the computer. By cross-referencing their features, we confirmed that "our" Pauline Kessler is indeed the subject of both works. The shared, unmistakable characteristics left no doubt.

The family had no idea who was in the picture?

They called the painting Auntie Bu拧inka, believing it depicted the painter's aunt, Libu拧e. This name had been passed down through the family. Unlike "our" painting, this one was more intimate. The painter's style seemed looser and more graceful, evident in the expression, clothing, and overall composition. In contrast, "our" painting appeared to have a more representative or formal function.

But you knew right away that the other painting was of Pauline, too...

During our visit to the first family, we were shown a photograph of a woman they called Auntie Zh谩n臎lov谩. By then, we knew Pauline had married Franti拧ek Zh谩n臎l at around 38 years old and taken the surname Zh谩n臎lov谩. Suddenly, we had three versions of Pauline Kessler before us at different stages of her life. That's when the whole puzzle came together.

And that's when it became clear there would be an exhibition.

It's unusual to create an exhibition centred on a single painting, but this case was special. First, people were impressed by my restoration work, and second, the painting's story was so captivating. It's rare to uncover such a significant piece of history through restoration. Together with the museum curator, we began planning an exhibition aptly titled Sister.

How did you feel while working on the painting?

It felt like solving a detective story (laughs). Bit by bit, piece by piece, I pieced everything together, and then it all clicked. It's still incredible to me that, through my dedication and discoveries, we were able to uncover so much.

Detectives often keep little notebooks. Where did you record all the information you found?

I kept a journal to ensure all my notes were in one place. At the same time, I maintained restoration documentation from the very beginning. That's a standard part of the process, and all the key details had to go there. When I didn't have paper handy, I'd jot down quick notes on my hand (laughs).

You speak about your work with such enthusiasm 鈥� it's clear you've chosen the right field.

I really love restoration. What fascinates me is how it combines so many disciplines. You need to approach a piece holistically, understanding what's best for it. I always say you need to be a little bit schizophrenic in this field 鈥� you're part photographer, technologist, chemist, art historian, artist, and skilled craftsman. And that's what makes it endlessly rewarding for me.

TEXT Zuzana Paulusov谩: PHOTO Archiv Mark茅ta Svobodov谩

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Expand your boundaries!

Ing. Lenka Krej膷铆kov谩 — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:58:15 +0000

Expand your boundaries! Ing. Lenka Kre鈥� Thu, 11/24/2022 - 13:58

To improve and grow. The DofE programme founded by the Duke of Edinburgh helps students from the 秀色直播.

Some students go jogging or swimming, others learn archery or pick up waste in the countryside. They have one thing in common: they are looking for a challenge. And wish to engage in personal development. They are motivated by the Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 Award programme with dozens of participants this year. 鈥淒ofE is an informal educational programme for young people between the ages of 14 and 24. The programme helps their self-development and self-awareness by engaging in three categories of activities,鈥� said Andrea Marie Krocov谩, a student of the Faculty of Chemical Technology.

Students work on specific skills, engage in volunteer work, or do sport. They choose one activity in each category in which they engage once a week for a period of six months or a year, depending on whether they aim for a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. 鈥淧ersonally, I am aiming for the Silver Award, and have chosen leading DofE at the 秀色直播 for the Volunteer section,鈥� says Andrea.

Having one鈥檚 own bees

Beekeeping is the skill that Andrea wants to work on. She is assisted by her neighbour, who owns beehives. 鈥淚 want to learn how to keep bees to be able to take care of my own bees and get honey. At secondary school, I attended a beekeeping club, which I enjoyed a lot. DofE is an opportunity for me to continue doing this,鈥� says Andrea. As for the Sports section, she went for archery. Every week, she must practice with 24 arrows for at least an hour. Andrea sees it in her own way: 鈥淚t means that I carry 24 lives in my quiver. I take inspiration from rangers that I I read about in the Ranger鈥檚 Apprentice book. Thanks to the books, I got an archery set as a Christmas gift,鈥� says Andrea.

Andrea learned about DofE by accident. The company that makes her favourite jewellery made a brooch for the Countess of Wessex. Countess Sophie was wearing the brooch for the DofE Award Ceremony and the jewellery manufacturer posted the news on its website. 鈥淲hen I started studying at the 秀色直播, I found out that the university was part of the programme. It was a stimulus to join the programme,鈥� says Andrea who studies Chemistry. She started by aiming for the Bronze Award, which involved picking up waste in Czech forests, and she opted for photography as a skill. Her aim was to take photos of an ice-hockey match, and she succeeded. She ended up being the photographer for the Riders team for the entire season.

Learning sign language

Andrea is not the only leader of the programme at the 秀色直播 and cooperates with Kate艡ina Komorousov谩 of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. 鈥淏ecause we, as leaders, have received some training, we approve the activities for the participants and help them set goals that are measurable and help them progress. The aim of DofE is not creating competition among students, but to determine one own鈥檚 progress,鈥� says Kate艡ina. She practised swimming and dancing, did babysitting and learned sign language. 鈥淪ome years ago, I watched a series about sign language, which sparked my interest. I enjoyed comparing American sign language and Czech sign language,鈥� says Kate艡ina Komorousov谩.

Students who join the programme at the 秀色直播 engage in a variety of activities. Some do martial arts, yoga, meditation or learn to cook. 鈥淪ome male students do cooking, which surprised me. They want to get better at what they can prepare in the kitchen鈥� says Kate艡ina. After each award achievement, there is an adventurous expedition to the countryside together with other participants. 鈥淒uring our expedition, we will walk part of the Zittau Way and we will keep mapping how wheelchair and pushchair accessible it is,鈥� says Kate艡ina.

These enthusiasts are motivated by a number of things, such as self-development, making progress and an easier start in their professional life. 鈥淭he participants receive a certificate that they can include in their CV. Employers see that the graduates can engage in long-term activities and have stamina,鈥� says Kate艡ina. The certificate is recognised internationally. In addition, the students receive a brooch at the ceremony.

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When studies are drowned out by war

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:15:26 +0000

When studies are drowned out by war Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/24/2022 - 12:15

It was Thursday, 24 February. They woke up to a day that was supposed to be like any other. A student day. Lectures, seminars and nice meetings with friends on campus awaited them. But that morning they woke up to war. A war they didn't want. Dozens of Ukrainian students, but also Russian ones, together with Czech ones, agree on one thing. This is not a war between Russians and Ukrainians. It is Vladimir Putin's war.

Most students found out about the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as soon as they picked up the phone in the morning. "Suddenly I received a large number of text messages. My mother texted me that the war had started," Viktoriia Safonenko, a Ukrainian student at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, described the initial shock. Other students received messages with detailed descriptions of what was happening in their home country. Relatives wrote to them that the Russian army was bombing Kiev and Kharkiv. "It has already started!!! We have not slept since five in the morning. You can hear explosions," read the terrifying message sent by her family in Kiev to Alona Podzega, who is finishing her studies at the same faculty and also works for the 秀色直播.

"In February, everyone said there might be a war. But I didn't believe it. We live in the 21st century, I don't understand that these things can happen in this time," says Daria Smirnova, a Ukrainian student studying at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, who has bad memories of the 2014 conflict. "Soldiers came to the school with machine guns and told us to go home. I ran to meet my grandmother, crying and calling out to her that there was a war. We moved from Luhansk to Odessa because of this. And here it is again. I didn't think I would experience two wars in 20 years of my life," she sighed. Yet Thursday, 24 February, was written in black in the history of Ukraine and Europe.

Life at the 秀色直播 seems to have stopped for them for a while. The lectures went by the wayside that day, and the studies were drowned out by the war. The motivation to gather new knowledge was replaced by sadness, fear and anger. "Even if I had gone to the lecture, I would not have been able to concentrate at all. I kept thinking about whether my family was okay," says Roman Pokhodoshchuk, a student of the Faculty of Transport Engineering, who was fighting a very hard battle within himself. On the very Thursday, he wanted to pack up and go home to join the fighting and defend his country. But his family tried to convince him not to go. "I should stay in the Czech Republic so I can help other Ukrainians who decide to come here," the young man said, adding that many of his classmates from his former school are already on the front lines. Almost all of the students wanted to go home. "Every day is very hard for me, I would like to be with my family, I am very worried about them," Viktoriia said, adding that her dad is ready to defend Ukraine. "He makes Molotov cocktails at home to protect our family and our city," she added. Some, however, don't even know if they have anywhere to return to or how their home is. "When I look at the pictures of destroyed Kiev, my city, my heart aches. I have absolutely no idea in what condition our house will be in," Liza Ryzhuk, a student at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, described her emotions.

Some were supposed to see their relatives in March, but the planned meetings were suddenly unthinkable. Families remained separated. "The weekend after the occupation began, I was supposed to be home. I was supposed to eat my grandmother's vareniki and discuss with my parents what was new. Unfortunately, that didn't happen," Alona lamented. Daria wanted to celebrate her birthday with her family, who planned to come to Pardubice to see her. "I wanted to celebrate with my mum, dad, grandma, grandpa and siblings. But that's not going to happen," Daria said.

But the war in Ukraine has also begun to have a big impact on student finances. Parents could no longer send them financial support as before. And so, life in Pardubice became a little more difficult for them. Very hastily, the students began to look for other part-time jobs to support themselves. "I have to go to work and earn some money to become financially independent and to be able to send some money to my family. I go to part-time jobs, but the earnings are limited because of taxes. Plus, studying has to be primary for me 鈥� that's why I'm here. So, I asked the dean for an extraordinary scholarship," Daria confided.

The extraordinary scholarship is one of several forms of assistance offered by the 秀色直播 to its students from Ukraine. The University Executive Board condemned the unprecedented Russian invasion, which shows no respect for the principles of democracy and the fundamental values of the European Union in the 21st century. So shortly after the war began, the University offered an extraordinary scholarship to students in a difficult financial situation and will also meet the needs of those who will have difficulty fulfilling their study obligations due to the conflict. Right away on that Thursday, Ukrainian flags began flying all over campus to express at least symbolic support and opposition to the war. Even the university logo was coloured yellow and blue.

The aid applies to all students affected by the war, including Russian students. Students who have come to the Czech Republic to study from Russia also face financial problems. Moreover, it is not certain whether they will have to end their studies early and return to their home country because they will not get visas. "Because of Putin's war, my parents cannot send me money, and I am afraid that they will not extend my visa and I will not be able to finish my studies. But I don't want to go back to Russia. However, it's nothing compared to what people in Ukraine are experiencing, Ukrainians are like brothers to me and now they are under fire. I will never accept this," says Ivan Knyshov, a student at the Faculty of Economics and Administration. Neither he nor his family, who actively oppose Putin, agree with the war. His father was even imprisoned for fighting against the political regime in Russia. "Democracy and freedom simply don't exist in Russia, the words are used, but the government understands them completely differently. That's why my parents sent me to the Czech Republic 鈥� to grow up in a democratic and free state," describes Ivan, who stands behind his Ukrainian classmates. While the Russian ones support their Ukrainian classmates, the Ukrainian ones know that their peers did not start the war. They even formed Russian-Ukrainian friendships that endure to this day 鈥� neither guns nor war will sever those ties. "I have a Russian friend here. I know that she is not to blame for the war and she did not choose it. We are still friends, I love her," Liza said.

Love vs. war

Some Russian and Ukrainian students even started dating. Also, love resists war. The partners took part in demonstrations in Prague and stand behind each other. For example, Oleksandr Korolov, a Ukrainian student from the Faculty of Economics and Administration in the Czech Republic, found his destined love when he met Maria, a Russian student studying at the Faculty of Chemical Technology. "The war will not divide us. If she weren't with me, I don't think I could even handle this situation. I don't mind that she's from Russia. She doesn't support the war or Putin," Sasha explained. His girlfriend disapproves of the war and her parents are proud of her for that; they don't want war either. But they cannot continue to send money to their daughter because of the Russian government's measures. So, Sasha and his girlfriend spent a whole day going to ATMs all over Pardubice, trying to withdraw as much money as possible, because they knew that her cards would soon stop working.

Students from both groups find at least some comfort in the support they receive from the Czech Republic and its citizens. "It is very important for us to know that we are not alone in this," Viktoriia added. At the 秀色直播, many initiatives have been created to give support to Ukraine. The faculties announced collections of supplies, which they then sent to refugees, Ukrainian soldiers and families cut off from basic needs. At the Musical Benefit Evening for Ukraine, students raised money to support the Ukrainian people. And the Department of Physical Education and Sports organised Yoga for Ukraine, where a voluntary entrance fee was paid, which went to help Ukrainian people. In addition, the 秀色直播 offered one entire building on campus, formerly a residence hall, to the city and region as housing for hundreds of people fleeing the war. The 秀色直播 is also accepting other Ukrainian students who were deprived of the opportunity to study at their universities by the war.

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From the jungle straight to campus

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:06:39 +0000

From the jungle straight to campus Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/24/2022 - 11:06

Coconuts, palm trees and a sunny beach. Faculty of Economics and Administration student Enrique Lyson臎k went to paradise on earth as a contestant of the reality show Survivor. On Team Azua, he fought for survival on a desert island. He survived for a month with minimal food and belongings on the edge of the jungle. The consolation for dropping out early was that he made it back in time for the first day of the semester.

What was the first meal you had after returning to the Czech Republic?

It was McDonald's. I was really looking forward to it and it was the first thing I wanted to eat. The first place I went to when I arrived in Pardubice was for a hamburger at the train station (laughs).

Some viewers objected that you were living in "luxury". They saw that you had tea, for example.

To anyone who says that, I'd like to take them there. If it's a luxury for someone to have a coconut for breakfast every day, I'll give it to them. Coconut for breakfast, coconut for lunch, coconut for dinner. It's true that the red tribe of Mao had tea because they brewed it from some berries. We had berries too, but they were not ripe. It was definitely not a luxury.

What did you miss most from the luxuries you are used to at home?

The biggest discomfort for me was eating and sleeping on the hard ground. I still can't sleep in a bed and my back hurts. I am gradually getting used to it and sleep alternately on the floor and on a mattress. The weather was really fantastic. The sun shone all the time, only occasionally it rained, otherwise it was always warm. But that's all.

We've already talked about coconut, but what else did you eat?

We had rice. We got a kilo for the whole team for the week, so we had a spoonful and a half of uncooked rice per person about three times a week. It was very little. If we were lucky, we'd win potatoes or beans and make, like, soups. At the beginning we also got spoons, forks, cups and a pot. In the first competition we also won an axe, hammer, saw and rope, which came in handy.

How did you practice personal hygiene on the island?

We used to brush our teeth with water and ash. Well, I tried it once and I lacerated my gum, so I didn't do it again. I didn't brush my teeth for 24 days. Since we didn't have food, it wasn't really necessary. And instead of a shower, we had the ocean. We washed our hair with salt water, which made it completely stiff.

Could you describe what a typical day was like?

I have no idea what time we got up. We had absolutely no idea of the time and we couldn't tell it from the sun. But I usually woke up at dawn, when other competitors were already by the fire drying things. For every breakfast, we had a coconut. Then we did things that were needed, like carrying wood. At the beginning we built a shelter together, and we also collected coconuts. We collected them on the beach and carried about ten of them. Sometimes we went fishing, but we soon abandoned that because we were unsuccessful most of the time.

And what did you do in the afternoon?

Later, we mainly rested. Lukas made chess pieces out of wood, which shortened our time. In addition, we participated in competitions. When we won a prize, we cooked with the ingredients we got when we returned. Or we'd go for a swim in the sea to wash off the loss and cool off. In the evening, we'd go and watch the sunset. We would sit on the beach on a bench made again by Lukas. We had a beautiful view there that I will remember for the rest of my life. Later we spent time together around the fire, sometimes singing. At night I often slept in the open because we couldn't all huddle together under the shelter. Some of us would wake up during the night and go to tend the fire regularly.

Why did you enter the competition in the first place?

When I was younger, it was on TV and I watched it every night. We talked about it at school, totally immersed in it. When Robinson's Island (a similar reality show 鈥� ed.) was on, it was the same thing. Even at that time I wished it was here too. When Robinson's Island came to the Czech Republic, I was 17 years old, so I couldn't apply. And I didn't even think I would make it. But one day I was scrolling through TikTok and I saw an ad for Survivor Czech & Slovakia. I didn't hesitate for a second. I clicked right away and signed up. The next day I made a motivational video and sent it in.

The start of the show was postponed due to the pandemic. What was going on?

That's right, it was because we had Covid. We have no idea where we caught it, we were all tested before we left, yet the infection got in. A lot of us ended up testing positive, and I was one of them. We were in isolation in a hotel room the whole time.

Did you prepare physically and mentally for the competition?

I knew from the beginning what I was getting into. I knew I'd be very hungry there. Two months before the competition, I ate a lot more and managed to gain a little weight. But I lost a lot more kilos on the island than I gained before I left. I tried not to think about hunger and not to tell myself that I was hungry. Mentally, it's more about being with strangers. It took a lot of tolerance.

Did you go into the competition with any tactics?

I had some plans, but I went in knowing that anything could happen. I knew from the beginning that the game was about alliances. Having an alliance was one of the tasks I set myself. I didn't expect it to go so fast, that there would be so many people that I would have a similar opinion with. So, I guess the tactic was just to hang on as long as possible, and also to play clean, even though it was clear that there was lying and tactics at play. I was a tactical player, but I didn't lie once. The game is also about betrayal, but I can't do that. I thought that since Survivor was my dream game, I would change there in that way, but I couldn't. And maybe that's why I'm here.

Do you notice any differences between the Czech and American versions of Survivor?

If I were to compare the game system, the two-person challenges that decide which of the two proposed players will leave the island are hugely different. People don't like that. Although I lost the challenge, I'm still a supporter. They can completely change the game. I hope these challenges show up in the US versions as well. The audience also criticised the fact that we had blankets to sleep on. In Robinson's Island, again, the participants had more pieces of clothing so they could sleep in them. We had fewer clothes and a blanket instead.

They say Survivor is a sort of relationship catalyst.

On a desert island, people get to know each other very quickly. In the beginning, everyone talks to everyone, but then some relationships deepen and some fade. You just can't get along with everyone in this game.

How was the return to social media?

It was a shock to me, for better or worse. A lot of criticism and hatred poured in. I'm trying not to take to heart the nearly 400 comments under my photo. Only a small portion of them is about me, and the rest are people arguing with each other. Occasionally someone criticises my appearance, which I find completely out of line. But in private messages I get a lot of support and constructive criticism, like how I should have done it better and so on. I'm grateful for that, and I'm also glad that my fan base has grown.

Have you looked back at the episodes that aired?

Just some of them. I'm sorry they cut out my frequent line that it's Survivor and you never know what's going to happen on the island. I understand that the editing is done to entertain the audience. When I watched from episode 10 onwards, I thought it was good and didn't miss anything. But it's different for everyone. For me it was the games, but I understand that people wanted to see more of how we live on the island, for example.

When you were on the island, it was the exam period here. How did you arrange that?

I sent a long email to the vice-dean, trying to explain everything. Actually, I wrote to her that I was going somewhere, I don't know where, I don't know when I'll be leaving or when I'll be back, but that I needed to postpone the exam period. I think she must have thought I was crazy because she didn't know the competition. But she was as helpful as she could be and advised me on what to do. So, I had a postponed exam period and potentially the start of the summer term. But in the end, I came back on the first day of the semester exactly. Now I have a lot on my plate, but up until now I've been enjoying myself and fulfilling my dream, so I need to get busy.

What has Survivor given you in your life?

Definitely a new perspective on people and the world around us. There were 11 people I didn't know at all, and suddenly I had to live with them. It also taught me a tolerance that was very much needed there. I also got the experience of filming and participating in such a huge project. When I say Survivor now, I think of hunger, competitions, living with people, alliances, and so on. I will always know that hunger is something you can endure. It's in your head.

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Returning From Isolation With a Unique Experience

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:50:24 +0000

Returning From Isolation With a Unique Experience Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/24/2021 - 15:50

Students of the 秀色直播 have returned from field research in Lapland with unique experience and material for evaluation. During the isolation, they covered in a closed group almost 300 kilometres through the wilderness of Swedish national parks without any mobile network and Internet coverage. The ability to go offline was the biggest challenge.

Being online, whether via computer or mobile, is an everyday part of life today. However, the students had to do for 19 days without the comfort of modern times and any signal. In addition, nature, terrain and white nights beyond the Arctic Circle, which erased the boundaries between day and night, complicated their Internet detox in the wilderness. This led to a unique research experience 鈥� students lost track of time. "As a result, the need for a time frame proved to be even more important to them than the lack of a telephone signal or the Internet," says Adam Hor谩lek, head of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy.

The students themselves admit that they only missed contacts and information they normally receive via the Internet and social networks for the first few days and were able to disengage from them. "We found out how important gestures of mutual help are for us, and that life can be quite simple without disturbing influences," said Vojt臎ch Juda, a second-year student of the postgraduate Social and Cultural Anthropology.

For students of Social and Cultural Anthropology, the extreme form of isolation was part of the research of autoethnography and ethnography of the social dynamics of the isolated microgroup. "In practice, it turned out that even a group of eight people is already a society 鈥� a social group. It has different tools and relationships than when you travel with two or four people. Being isolated from the external environment made it a society that naturally and gradually created new systems of values, norms, rules, but also social pressure. On the one hand, it restricted the freedom of the individual, on the other hand, it naturally allowed to manage society effectively," said Hor谩lek, adding: "Although I was still the leader of the group, several parallel management tools were created that were independent of me. With the group being isolated, these processes, forces and standards were more visible and identifiable."

The researchers are now embarking on a second phase, the analysis. It was the duty of each member of the expedition to keep a field diary as one of the main anthropological methods. In addition, they were given daily tasks and kept an evaluation form, which will serve as a quantifying and confrontational material for comparison with data from diaries. Students brought a large amount of film and photographic material for the study focus of visual anthropology. "We now have a huge amount of data. However, we plan to publish the first preliminary results at the Sociocon 2021 conference in October," said Hor谩lek, who believes that it will be possible to compile a professional monograph from the analysis of diaries and that research experience will inspire students in writing their theses.

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UPCE On Air Episode with Ahmed from Yemen

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:46:17 +0000

UPCE On Air Episode with Ahmed from Yemen Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/13/2021 - 15:46

Check out our facebook, spotify, or youtube to catch the first UPCE On Air podcast in English coming out on Monday 16 August at 5pm CEST. This episode will bring you a story of our student Ahmed. What was it like growing up in Yemen. How does volunteering help him in overcoming homesickness? What is Jambiya and what does it represent? You can look forward to all of this and more.

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Universitas Caf茅: Having something sweet, that is where the added value of the talks lies.

Ing. Lenka Krej膷铆kov谩 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 10:06:26 +0000

Universitas Caf茅: Having something sweet, that is where the added value of the talks lies. Ing. Lenka Kre鈥� Fri, 10/16/2020 - 12:06

The first Universitas Caf茅 in the new semester has touched upon the current pandemic in a historical context with a lecture entitled Plague Epidemic in the Early Modern Period in Czechlands. Recently, Veronika Jane膷kov谩 and Aneta Kohoutov谩, students of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, have taken charge of the Caf茅.

How would you briefly describe the Universitas Caf茅?

Veronika: It is a series of talks held at Klub 29, which offers an informal setting. Our role as the organizers is inviting the speaker and organizing the talks so that they are attractive for as many students and members of the public as possible. Our aim is to spark interest in science and knowledge and create an atmosphere that will be conducive to asking questions and finding answers.

Aneta: People meet at a friendly place outside the classroom walls to discuss topics that do involve an academic dimension.

What was your personal motivation for joining the project?

Veronika: During my study at the 秀色直播, I attended a number of talks and conferences, which were not obligatory and no credits were awarded for the attendance. I simply attended them in my free time to learn more about things outside my field of study. I see organizing talks for the Universitas Caf茅 as doing something in return since I fully realize that there was a real organizer behind each talk or conference that I could attend. That is why I was happy to join the project when I was approached.

Aneta: What I liked about the project was stepping outside the university premises and discussing academic topics in the fresh air. Personally, I see it as an opportunity to get the public involved in university activities, which is an extremely important motivation for me.

How time-consuming is the organization? How much in advance do you start preparing and arranging the talks?

Veronika: Since it was just before the COVID-19 outbreak that we got in charge, I cannot, in fact, tell how the preparation process looks like under normal circumstances. At the moment, all is frantic and no one knows what to expect.

Aneta: Our ideal scenario would be planning the programme for the entire semester, which we have, actually, managed to do this semester due to the pandemic, which postponed most of the talks. At the moment, we are approaching mainly speakers from the 秀色直播, but in the future we would like to approach experts from other universities or institutions too.

How do you choose the topics for individual talks?

Veronika: Our primary aim is that the talks be attractive for students and the public. We would like to give the researchers from the 秀色直播 an opportunity to present and discuss their research; personally I am really interested in what the teachers at our university deal with and what progress they achieve. At the same time, we would like to invite experts from other institutions to be able to maintain the diversity of topics, for which the Universitas Caf茅 is famous, thanks to the excellent work of our predecessors.

Aneta: It seems to me that so far we have been approaching particular speakers, rather than choosing specific topics. We have been in charge for too short a time to be able to give a proper answer. In the future, I would like to focus on topical issues as well as innovations in traditional topics.

Which talk scheduled for the fall semester do you look forward to the most? Who was most difficult to persuade?

Veronika: I look forward to all the talks and I believe that all the topics are interesting.
Aneta: What I look forward to the most is a talk that will not be subject to any restrictions. Topic-wise, I agree with Veronika and I am happy about each of the talks.

Have you thought of an alternative in case there are some containment measures in place?

Aneta: Unfortunately, we have to. At the moment, we are discussing moving the talks online. We are fine tuning the details.

The name Universitas Caf茅 lends itself to the following question: Will the attendees be able to have a coffee or something sweet to eat?

Veronika: Absolutely. The talks take place in an informal setting, in Klub 29, rather than at the university, so that the attendees may listen to the talks while enjoying something to eat.

Aneta: Quite so. Having something sweet, that is where the added value of the talks lies. In fact, the caf茅 environment itself has been traditionally a place for meeting people and enjoying a hot drink. That is what brings people attending the talks together. I hope that the informal nature will make it possible to break any barriers and counter prejudices that some of the attendees may have as they otherwise avoid university as an ivory tower. In fact, what we offer is a sort of a friendly pub chat.

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PhD Student鈥檚 Book Shortlisted for Czech Literary Prize

Ing. Lenka Krej膷铆kov谩 — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:54:26 +0000

PhD Student鈥檚 Book Shortlisted for Czech Literary Prize Ing. Lenka Kre鈥� Wed, 10/07/2020 - 11:54

A hip hop detective story called Little NY has been shortlisted for this year鈥檚 edition of the Ji艡铆 Orten Award. Even though P艡emysl Krej膷铆k, its author and a PhD candidate of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the 秀色直播, did not win the award in the end, being shortlisted for the award means getting attention.

What does it mean for you to be shortlisted for the Ji艡铆 Orten Award?

Let me begin with a clich茅, which is so true that it cannot be avoided. The mere fact that my book has been shortlisted is enormous honour and success for me, which I never believed could become true, even though I secretly hoped for it. At the same time, it is an opportunity for the book to receive wider attention, which is, probably, the most important thing.

What are the reasons behind the success of your book? What makes it special?

A hard question...I do not understand it myself for a number of reasons. But I would guess it is special both in terms of the language it uses and the topic it deals with. The book is about the hip hop community in the Czech Republic and describes it in an authentic way using authentic language, I believe, since I was myself part of the rap generation at the time when the story takes place. And the hip hop community was somewhere between underground and mainstream at that time. This makes the novel original, if there is nothing else. The novel offers an insider's view of a period, which was unique.

Did you follow what reviewers wrote about your book?

I do so all the time, maybe too much.

Will the such success serve as motivation for further writing?

No, I don鈥檛 think so. I may be too emotional about successes and failures, but they have no impact on whether I write and what I write. I simply write something hoping someone will find it interesting.

Who is your favourite Ji艡铆 Orten Award winner?

Let me use one more clich茅, which is, once again, very true. So many great authors got the award, I have read many of them and several are my favourite authors. But if you insist that I choose those closest to my heart, I like the poems of Jan T臎snohl铆dek Jr.and fiction by Petra Soukupov谩 or Petr Borkovec. If I were to name all the authors I like, it would make a long list. And now I talk only about the winners, not the shortlisted authors.

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Students Waiting to Come Back to the Czech Republic

Ing. Lenka Krej膷铆kov谩 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:14:13 +0000

Students Waiting to Come Back to the Czech Republic Ing. Lenka Kre鈥� Tue, 06/23/2020 - 14:14

What university students imagine when they hear Erasmus is a semester spent at a university abroad, travelling around the country and meeting new people. This is what the students of the 秀色直播 hoped to do when they went on their Erasmus stays in January, having no idea at that time how coronavirus would interfere with their plans.

鈥淣o way did I imagine a semester like that. When I went to Greece, coronavirus was already on the agenda, but I did not imagine an outcome like the actual one,鈥� says Veronika P谩vov谩, one of such students. Students had only a few weeks to enjoy their host country before the outbreak of the epidemic, which prevented them both from travelling and studying.

SEEING THE ALPS AND THAT鈥橲 IT

鈥淚n mid-February I went to the Alps. At that time, no one knew that was the actual epicenter,鈥� says Vojt臎ch Dyntera of the Faculty of Transport. His Erasmus stay was in Italy, but he spent most of the time locked in a flat. Even though the situation in Italy was difficult, he decided to stay there to prevent the two-week quarantine at his parents鈥� place. 鈥淚 did not want to expose my parents to any risk,鈥� explains Vojt臎ch.

Erasmus in the Times of Coronavirus

Another student who decided not to come back was Petr Jel铆nek, one of the reasons being the fact that there was a lot of uncertainty as to how the semester would continue. 鈥淚n the Czech Republic, I would have to join classes in mid-semester, which I wanted to avoid. Moreover, there was a risk that we would need to return the financial support,鈥� says Petr, who is in Turkey.

After the outbreak, the students basically did not go to the university, since the classes went online.

鈥淚 could only leave my home to do the shopping, and I needed a self-certification form, which I had to produce at a police checkpoint,鈥� explains Vojt臎ch Dyntera.
The students have already sat for them exams online, but they are still abroad and wait to be able to come home. 鈥淥ur city is locked and we are not allowed to leave it. I did have a chance to fly back home, but I could not get to the airport,鈥� says Petr Jel铆nek. I want to use the remaining days to get to know the city a little bit.
International students who have come to the Czech Republic share the feelings of their Czech peers abroad. 鈥淚 was indeed worried when leaving for the Czech Republic, but I was told that I was not heading to China, so all would be fine,鈥� says Liubov Kudlai from Ukraine. After the outbreak, she wanted to go home, but she thought it unsafe to spend time at the airport. 鈥淚 felt more comfortable staying in Pardubice, a small and pleasant city, where I felt safe,鈥� adds Liubov.

She devoted the time she was forced to spend in her flat to on-line study and doing exercise, and now she uses the chance to get to know the surroundings. 鈥淚 go to the Na 艩pici park and to caf茅s, which I could not do before,鈥� says Liubov. She also plans to get on a train and visit other places. 鈥淚 will be heading home soon and it would be a pity not to get to know such a lovely country as the Czech Republic is,鈥� says Liubov.

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A PhD candidate contributing to the research of pancreatic cancer

Ing. Lenka Krej膷铆kov谩 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 15:23:10 +0000

A PhD candidate contributing to the research of pancreatic cancer Ing. Lenka Kre鈥� Fri, 01/10/2020 - 16:23

A team led by Professor Michal Hol膷apek of the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemical Technology is trying to detect the pancreatic cancer at its early stage, and introduce a method which will make the lives of hundred thousands of patients easier. Michaela Chocholou拧kov谩, a PhD candidate, who is currently gaining professional experience in Singapore, is also a member of his team. She is trying to develop a procedure for verifying the quality of the biological samples.

Why Singapore?

Singapore is home to a prestigious lipidomic incubator with extensive experience in analyzing sphingolipids. This gives me a unique opportunity to learn something new in our field, which can be later applied in our laboratory.

What is the focus of your research?

I am trying to develop a procedure for verifying the quality of the blood plasma, which may largely affect data interpretation. The aim of such a procedure is to detect a sample where blood plasma has been mishandled when being taken or processed, and thus eliminate the sample from the study, or take the sample again. This should enhance the quality of the statistical models as well as reduce the number of false negatives or false positives.

How did you join the team?

I have been with the 秀色直播 since my BA studies. In the MA programme, I wrote a thesis under the supervision of Doc. Ji艡铆 Urban, who suggested that I apply for the PhD programme. However, as he was leaving the university, he recommended me to Professor Hol膷apek, who agreed to be my supervisor after some talk.

What does it mean for you to work in Professor Hol膷apek鈥檚 team?

It is a great opportunity for me to work on something meaningful and useful. The mere fact that as a student I can work on such a big research project is unique. As a member of Professor Hol膷apek鈥檚 team, I can work with various types of mass spectrometres, I have had the chance to meet important researchers in our field, attend prestigious global conferences and do internships in high-profile labs abroad. Moreover, the international nature of the team means that I use English on an everyday basis, and English is a necessity in today鈥檚 world of science.

Do you ever wonder that the research project you are part of may mean a breakthrough if completed successfully?

To tell the truth, I have not taken this perspective yet. What I do realize now, however, is that there is vast amount of work yet to be done to bring the project to a successful end. My top priority this year, however, is completing the PhD studies.

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