Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1993 - 27

Iy realized in rhe Liberec Opera House in
1987 (Figure 20). In rhis simple and profound way Vancura believes his dream is
fulfilled through this painting-he has
designed for the Vienna State Opera.
Confronting the paintings of Jan
Vancura is a humbling experience. On
the surface level alone, Vancura's sheer
technical excellence and arristic bravura
are very daunting. But when the deeply
human context of paintings such as
"Covent Garden" and "\Xfiener Oper"
are undersrood, one's sense of humility
is intensified. In the face of overwhelming personal and professional restrictions, Jan Vancura found a means and a
capability ro construct a private world
of fantasy and truth that acted as a
buffer against the official world of lies
that surrounded him. An can serve very
high moral purposes and it can be an
active agent of healing if we will it ro be
so. Jan Vancura's paintings of his dream
theatres shows a way in which this is
done. Painting, scenography, theatre,
and the human spirit are enriched by his
1!l
efforrs.
Delbert Unruh is a member ofthe design
jflcuft)' at the Universit), of Kawas and a
Contributing Editor to TD&T.

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Endnotes
I, 2. 3,

,5 All comments taken from a series of private
conversations with Jan Vancuf3 in Liberec.
Czechoslo\'akia. 13-14 i\o\'ember 1991.

Notes on Paintings
Figure
Figure 5

"The June ~ lorning." 130x95 cm, 1986
.. 0 ivadlo, ,. I 07x80x Scm, pai n Ii ng/rel icf:
acrylic. latex, wood, canvas, 1976-77

Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9

"Gustav KlinH Cunain In Liberec Thearre,"

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paintinglrelief. 99xc73 CI11.
"Ocr FreischlHz" 80x70 em, acrylic on canvas,
1983
"Tearro alia Scala," 100x90 cm. acrylic on can\'as, 1976
'Tearro alia Scala," 100x90 cm. paintinglrelief:

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THEATRE

acrylic, latex, wood, canvas, 1976
Figure 10 "Tearro alia Scalia, 180x 110 cm. painting/
relief acrylic, wood, 197Figure 11 "Sravovskc Di\'adlo V Praze." 95x95 em.
acrylic, latex on canvas, 1975
Figure 12 "Auditorium." -Sx80 cm. acrylic on canvas,

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1991
Figure 13 "Semper Oper," 100xlS0 cm, acrylic on can\'as, 1985
Figure 14 "Thr t\fflgic Fltar in rhe Sravovske Thearre"
Figure 15 "Arena di Verona," 100xlOO cm, acrylic on
can"as, 1990
Figure 16 "Arena di Verona," 60x-O cm, acrylic on can\'as. 1991
Figure 1- "Prager The.nre," 95x95 cm, acrylic on C3I1V.1S.
1991
Figure 18 "Covell{ G.uden," 150x135 cm. acrylic on call\'as. 1985
figure 19 h\\'iencr Opcr," 95x95 cm ..ICrylic on cam'JS,
1990

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TD&T

1993 WINTER

25
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1993
