Prague museum maps history of Apple computers and genius of visionary Steve Jobs
Prague’s Pop Art Museum in Husova Street recently launched a new exhibition mapping the history of Apple computers which changed the world and the impact of visionary Steve Jobs. On view, are key devices from the original Apple I by Stephen Wozniak, to the Macintosh, to the iMac. Some of the items on display are rare limited editions only ever produced in the hundreds or several thousands.
“This building is primarily a gallery space so when the opportunity appeared to be able to put together a comprehensive exhibition about the history of Apple, computer design and Steve Job’s impact, we were very excited. Prague is the first place this exhibition is being seen. It is not a permanent show but we are grateful we have it here.”
How long is the show running, then?
“That depends on a number of factors in the future. But we hope it will remain here for quite some time.”
So it’s open-ended is what you are saying…
“That’s right, yes.”
Many or most of the items which are on display have been loaned from private owners or private collections… How broad is the scope of the exhibit?
“We cover the scope of Jobs’ career and Apple from 1976 to 2012. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, but 2012 still saw the release of Apple products which he still had input in or role in designing. I believe we have put together the most complex and thorough exhibition of Apple products: we have every important computer not just from Apple but also other firms where Jobs was involved: NeXT or Pixar, for example.”
“We wanted to tell a story. In the very first room visitors can see the key thing to making affordable home computers.”
The people who lent their computers, are they mostly from the Czech Republic or Slovakia or Europe?
“They are from all over the world. They wished to remain anonymous and we also wanted it to remain a mystery.”
Mystery, indeed secrecy, was a part of Jobs’ professional approach, wasn’t it? Keeping new designs under wraps until a set launch, when the moment was exactly right…
“We were trying to follow Jobs’ philosophy. He used surprise as an element very effectively. The same was true in preparation of this exhibit: there was no advance information, no advance press release. So even when the space was being adapted and modified for the show, we wanted this to be a surprise. Jobs as CEO was certainly very careful and there weren’t leaks like we sometimes see now of photos from factories in China scooping what an item will look like. That didn’t happen when he was alive.”
And the ‘Apple Museum’ opened one month ago…
“Yes.”
What are other aspects of Jobs’ philosophy and legacy that have been respected by the museum?
Then, in the exhibition we map the founding of NeXT, which are lesser-known computers for some viewers but which played an important role. The NeXT computer is the one on which the first website was created and launched.”
How many of you were involved in putting together this show in terms of design lighting, the use of the architectural space?
“Four, if I am not mistaken.”
And it was a lot of work?
“Yes it was. More than some people realize, due to the minimalist design.”
“We wanted to create the kind of space Jobs might himself have approved: very clear, clean, minimalistic design.”
I ask specifically because I know a lot of care went into making the surfaces clean, simple and spotless: the walls weren’t painted by traditional means…
“No, every square metre was sprayed so there would be no sign of a single brush-stroke. It all adds to the overall effect.”
The room we are in is decorate with embedded iPads, designer lamps, the old Apple logo in the window… Another element which is true to Jobs’ vision or preferences is right around the corner…
“Yes, that’s Steve’s café, featuring healthy food and drink: vegetarian, vegan or raw.”
What was particularly difficult about putting together this show?
“Ultimately, the task of finding many of the different computers, still functional and in excellent shape. We had to put together the different time periods and evolution of the different Apple designs. We had to find many crucial designs along the way, the original colourful iMacs can be hard to find, because the casing was often damaged. We also have some limited editions and rare models on display. We have, for example, a Beatles-edition of the iPod which was very rare and today is worth a great deal. So finding all the items was the toughest task.”
On that note let’s have a look around…
“This is the Apple I which we spoke about: it is all made up of different parts, more like a model kit: a keyboard hooked up, a separate monitor, the main board… some of them would have wooden elements. Basically, you got an operating manual and you had to put the thing together yourself.”
This kind of homebrew D-I-Y element: did any of that spirit remain under Jobs later on? Obviously, the Apple we know became more about items becoming integral parts of one’s lifestyle…
“That’s the thing: the Apple I went the opposite route. It was designed by his partner Stephen Wozniak. But Jobs saw the enormous potential. By contrast, he didn’t want users to get inside the computer. His idea was that you should be able to take the computer straight out of the box and begin using it.”
We have moved on to a display case called ‘Steve Jobs favourites’ and we can see some of his personal items: the famous round frames, jeans, a sweater, running shoes, bottled water by his chair and a first-generation iPad…
“The iPad was a very important design for him. It was something which Jobs dreamed of long before the first one was ever built. He was very happy when it was finally released.
To come back to the exhibition, what has the feedback been over the first month?
“Lining up the [old and new] makes perfect sense. To see the changes and the evolution of the computer design.”
“As far as I can see many people have appreciated it and learned something about the history of IT and Apple computers. More and more, there are users who forget or weren’t familiar that devices weren’t as user-friendly as those designed under Steve Jobs, going back to the first PCs and DOS. So I think the exhibition helps show how Apple helped bring computers to everyday life.”
When you look at some of those graphics of the evolution of the iMac alone… basically, you are looking at two-year intervals in which the design saw improvements or major changes… You can look at some of those designs almost with a sense of regret, because some of those designs were fairly short-lived (iMac Flower Pot, anyone?). Do you think it makes sense to see them lined up against each other?
“Perfect sense. That is how one can best see the changes and the evolution of the computer design. How it went from being an item which came in a big box and protective wrapping like a TV, to the slim aluminum frame iMac which you can buy now.”
