The Brussels Dream

The Czechoslovak presence at Expo 58 in Brussels and the lifestyle of the early 1960´s.

 The Brussels World Fair Expo 58 and primarily the Czechoslovak presence at the event are legendary in the Czech cultural context. The utter success of the Czech representation is one of the stepping-stones in the post-war history that enabled the nation to regain national consciousness. Nevertheless; the awareness of the Czech success has been gradually disappearing. Nowadays, the wonderful success of the Czech exposition, Laterna magika, or the initial steps in opening up to the West are the first things to cross peoples’ mind in relation to Expo 58 or the Brussels style. Art professionals who witnessed the period recall the modern decorative style inspired by international style, the cosmic Sputnikesque euphoria and the subsequent, often almost bizarre use of plastics, pastel colours, typical diagonal elements and organic shapes. Despite of its long-lasting attraction, the phenomenon has never become the centre of attention among professionals. Fifty years later, the time has finally come to examine the significance and the atmosphere of Expo 58 and to assess its impact on the artistic, social, political as well as cultural level. The exhibition presented as a multimedia installation as well as the accompanying monograph represent a good opportunity for that. A trilingual English–French-German booklet – the exhibition guide reflecting the issues of the Czechoslovak presence at Expo 58 and the subsequent wave of the Brussels style in design is dedicated to the foreign visitors of the exhibition. The stirring text by Daniela Kramerova portrays, in an intelligible form, political, historical and social aspects of preparation of the Czechoslovak exposition at the Brussels World Fair. It takes readers on a virtual tour through the pavilion and its expositions and through text and image introduces the key exhibits and their awards. It also elaborates on coining of the term Brussels style as well as the historical context and the expansion of the style into various areas of design such as glass and porcelain, textiles, typography and commercial photography. The aim of this booklet is to introduce foreign visitors to broader historical and political context of the Brussels style period. The graphic design of this publication created by Robert V. Novák is inspired by the period typography.