Piped poetry makes world debut in Prague
People passing by náměstí Míru in Prague these days may have come across a strange pipe-like structure protruding from the ground. Though it looks like it might have been left there by workers, it is in fact the world’s first ever poetry jukebox, the so-called Poesiomat, invented by café owner and idea maker Ondřej Kobza. In this edition of In Focus, Ruth Fraňková went to have a look at it:
If you want to listen to a poem, the only thing you have to do is press the button and listen. You don't even have to insert any coins, the poems are for free. Though Bondy or Jaroslav Seifert passed away years ago, you can still hear their voices, thanks to audio recordings provided for the Poesiomat by Czech Radio.
The man behind the project is Ondřej Kobza, the owner of the popular Café V lese and other venues in Prague, who is also known for his attempts to liven up the public space. A few years ago, he made headlines in Czech and international media for bringing pianos to streets of Prague and other towns across the country. Last year, he installed chess tables in náměstí Míru and other sites across the city.
Ondřej Kobza's latest contribution to the public space, the Poesiomat, was recently unveiled in the presence of the culture minister and representatives of Czech Radio. When I spoke to Ondřej Kobza, I asked him how he got the idea in the first place and whether he had found inspiration elsewhere:
“About one and a half years ago I started to spread pianos and chess tables into the streets and squares of Czech towns, and I was asking myself what else could be introduced into the public space.”
“And because I love reading poetry in the countryside I had this idea that it would be nice if people could hear poetry reading in the squares and in the streets.
“I think it was my original idea but I would like to spread it all over the world. So if someone is interested in doing the same thing, I have no problem with it.”
So you are willing to share your idea with the whole world for free?
“Yes, of course. Right now we have planes to install it in Kiev, Madrid, Berlin and Moscow and I would also like to bring it to New York.”
“I am the author of the idea but Poesiomat was designed by two designers, Jitka Tomsová and Vít Ježek.”
And how long did it take from the initial idea to the implementation?
“It took one year and three months. You know, it is still a new thing for our politicians to be approached by normal people, such as me, who ask them if it is OK to do something for free. They were very surprised because they are still not used to something like this.”
How did you choose the location at náměstí Míru?
“We wanted a frequented place where lots of people are passing, but that wouldn't be so loud. I think this square is a great space with a lot of people but not that many cars.”
How did you actually choose the authors and the poems?
“We have twenty Czech authors, half of them people who have already passed away and half of them living authors. There is one poem by each of the authors.”
And who is reciting the poems?
“It’s the authors themselves. I think this is the nice thing about it. You can actually feel the poet’s energy, because it is their voice reading the poem.”
Will you be expanding the range of the poems?
“We started only two weeks ago, you know. So right now we are testing it and asking people what they prefer but of course we can do different types.”
How much did it actually cost?
Who financed the project?
“In the beginning I paid it from my own pocket, but several donors, such as Václav Dejčmar, the owner of the DOX gallery, have promised to help us with the funding. Right now we are waiting for the money.”
What is the idea behind Poesiomat?
“The main idea behind it is that normal people like me or anybody else, can contribute to creating the public space. Everybody can do something similar. We do pianos, we do chess tables and poetry jukeboxes, but it just an example of what ordinary people can do in their towns.
“I have a non-profit organisation which supports similar projects, we produce manuals and offer consulting to people. So my biggest aim is having more people being involved in creating their cities.”
In the past, you have already installed pianos and chess tables in the streets of Prague and especially the pianos became a great hit, with videos of people playing going viral. How do people react on the Poesiomat?
“Of course I don’t suppose it will be such a hit on YouTube, simply because it is not interesting from a visual point of view. But when I pass the square, about seventy percent of people who pass by have a listen. So I think that’s not bad.
“But what is even more important is that Poesiomat is our original idea, unlike the pianos in the public space. So if Poesiomats spread through the world and I think they will, it will be nice to say that they originated in Prague. I believe that within three years there will be about 150 or 200 jukeboxes in the world.”
Is that a vision or so you already have some specific plan?
“You know, everything I do is very spontaneous. When I started to bring pianos in the streets, I posted on FB that if someone wants to do something similar, I am willing to help. In one month, there were pianos in thirty towns.
“So I think this will be similar. I have some friends all over the world and I wrote to about thirty of them and everybody answered that they were interested in the project. I can’t believe it.”
I believe you are already scheduled to unveil the first Poesiomat in Kiev…
“Yeas, it will be installed at a large book fair in Kiev and then we will start looking for a permanent location in the public space.”
