Signal Festival 2024

Event Date:
October 10 – 13, 2024

Signal Festival curator: Pavel Mrkus
Signal Forum curators: Lucia Dubačová (SK) and Irini Mirena Papadimitriou (GR)
Visual identity: Jan Brož and Jan Novák

Location:
Prague Castle
Prague, Czech Republic

*Prague Castle becomes a digital art wonderland for Signal Festival 2024*

For the first time ever, the Prague Castle will transform into an immersive digital art experience during Signal Festival 2024. From October 10 to 13, the festival’s twelfth edition, Ecosystems II: Quest, will light up the city’s iconic landmarks with video projections and art installations by prominent Czech and international artists, blending the old world with cutting-edge technology.

Key attractions include video mapping by Filip Hodas at the Archbishop’s Palace, Jiří Příhoda’s sculptures at Sternberg Palace, UVA’s kinetic pendulums at Kunsthalle Praha, and Quayola’s sound projection at CAMP.

*UVA's Strange Attractions at Kunstahalle Praha*

“Signal Festival has long aspired to transform the historically and architecturally unique space of Prague Castle, and after twelve years, this dream has become a reality.”

— Martin Pošta, Director of Signal Festival

*SpY ORB at Prague Castle, South Gardens*

Signal Festival invites visitors to discover well-known and hidden parts of Prague, the premiere of the Prague Castle route being a major highlight this year.

“Prague Castle is open to various cultural and artistic events, including Signal Festival. Thanks to this partnership, visitors will literally see parts of the Castle in a new light.”

— Veronika Wolf, Programme and Cultural Director of the Office of the President of the Republic

*Jiri Prihoda's Capriccio at Sternberg Palace*

The Prague Castle District route will begin at the Prague Castle Riding Hall, passing through the palaces of Hradčany Square, then the South Gardens, open exclusively in the evenings for the festival, and ending at Kunsthalle Praha.

At Sternberg Palace, visitors will find Jiří Příhoda’s dynamic projection Capriccio, which uses AI to evoke Renaissance painting styles.

*Seohyo Coded Tapestry at Prague Castle Riding School*

The experimental structure Karbola will give the impression of an alien ship landing in the palace garden.

Filip Hodas, a renowned Czech 3D artist and graphic designer, has created a layered video mapping called Eternal Recurrence for the Archbishop’s Palace, telling a digital story of life’s origins and evolution.

*Filip Hodas' Eternal Recurrence at Archbishops Palace*

UVA, a prominent London-based studio, will present Strange Attractions at Kunsthalle Praha, combining kinetic pendulums with multimedia installations.

The second route will guide visitors through Prague’s creative hotspots, with highlights like the video mapping installation The Rhythm of the Ocean by Spanish-Danish duo Desilence at the Municipal Library. Accompanied by music from Grammy-nominated composer Suzanne Ciani, this display will transform the library’s façade into an underwater spectacle.

*Laterna magika's Iron Horse: Fractured at Clam-Gallas Palace*

Bill Fontana, a sound art pioneer, will present Silent Echoes at the Baroque refectory of the Dominican Convent, incorporating sounds from Notre Dame Cathedral and a glacial cave.

The journey ends at CAMP with Quayola’s video series Effets de Soir, capturing the stunning effects of light and shadow at dusk and dawn, drawing inspiration from artists like Monet and Van Gogh.

Signal Festival will continue its collaborations with partners like Mercedes-Benz, showcasing Aura, an installation at Klementinum that merges animations with electric vehicles by designer Václav Mlynář, along with Monument Office, Signal Creative studios, and lighting designer Lukáš Dřevjaný.

At the National Theatre’s Piazzetta, Kryštof Brůha’s Audire Fluctus, created in partnership with PrusaLab, will visualize technological activity.

The Gallery Zone will feature seven unique venues across Prague, with tickets available for presale.

*Cao Yuxi's Dimesional Sampling at Old Town Square*

New to this year’s festival is the Signal Forum conference, an educational and networking platform held in partnership with the Slovak festival Sensorium. Taking place on October 11 and 12 at CAMP, the forum will host lectures, workshops, and activities focused on 21st-century trends. Featuring 15 international speakers, including NASA astrobiologist Michaela Musilová and Arts at CERN founder Ariane Koek, the conference will align with the festival’s Ecosystems II: Quest theme. Additional activities, like the Meet Market, will encourage further engagement with the festival’s themes.

Participating artists include Seohyo (KOR), Filip Hodas (CZ), Jiří Příhoda (CZ), Michael Bielický & Kamila B. Richter (CZ), SpY (ES), United Visual Artists (GB), Cao Yuxi (CHN), Desilence (SP), and more.

Signal Festival 2024 promises to be an unforgettable experience, merging worlds of history, art, and technology. Whether you’re a digital art enthusiast or looking to explore Prague in a new light, this festival is a must-see.

Experience the Prague Castle and the digital art world collide this October, and let us know your thoughts!