Date: 31 July (Fri) – 30 August 2026 (Sun)
Venue: Wyndham Social, G/F & 27/F, 33 Wyndham Street, Central
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Free Admission with reservation
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Italian Cultural Institute is delighted to present “This is M. Šašek” Exhibition with Wyndham Social, the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Hong Kong, alongside EUNIC Hong Kong cluster partners: Alliance Française de Hong Kong, Goethe-Institut Hongkong, and Consulate General of Ireland in Hong Kong, with local creative brand ditto ditto. Generously supported by the Miroslav Šašek Foundation, which has granted permission to showcase precious manuscript images, this exhibition invites Hong Kong audiences into the compelling visual and textual world of Miroslav Šašek, one of the 20th century’s most influential Czech illustrators. Visitors will explore how his elegant, childlike brushstrokes transformed the way the world views cities, while uncovering the dramatic highs and lows of his legendary life.
A Window to the Pre-Digital World: Exploring the Timeless Classics of the “This is” Series
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape where the entire world is within arm’s reach, it is hard to imagine that just a few decades ago, books were the sole window to foreign cultures. As Šašek once noted, “Children today already know everything; the world is getting smaller and smaller.” In 1959, struck by a sudden wave of inspiration during a trip, Šašek created the series’ debut masterpiece, This is Paris. Over the next twenty years, this grew into a monumental 18-volume collection that has stood the test of time.
With his captivating wit, rich cultural and geographical insights, and subtly humorous prose, Šašek breathed new life and brilliance into iconic landmarks. His bold, fashionable, and highly creative multi-disciplinary approach captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Notably, This is London and This is New York consecutively topped the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year list. Regarded as the pioneering blueprint for world travel picture books, Šašek’s classic background designs and aesthetic styles continue to be referenced by contemporary Hollywood animation hits such as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
Architectural Aesthetics and Years in Exile: The Intertwined Destiny of the Artist
Drawing from the biography This is M. Sasek: The Extraordinary Life and Travels of the Beloved Children’s Book Illustrator, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look into Šašek’s life and creative journey. Born in Prague, he studied architecture as a young man, cultivating solid drafting skills and a profound structural understanding of urban spaces. This background defined his uniquely precise “large versus small” comparative perspective when depicting cityscapes.
Following World War II, Šašek moved to Paris in 1947 to further his studies but was forced into exile after the Czechoslovak Communist Party took power. In the mid-1950s, he endured a “dark period” where severe cold and poverty left him unable to paint, until the launch of the This is series brought him global acclaim. Yet, the Iron Curtain meant he lived with the regret of never being able to create This is Prague for his beloved hometown. The exhibition features a dedicated “Tribute to Šašek” section, with heartfelt thanks to the Miroslav Šašek Foundation. Beyond authorising the display of rare draft reproductions, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to catalogue the master’s legacy and collaborated contemporary illustrators to extend the spirit of the series by creating new city guides. Notably, in collaboration with BAOBAB Publishing, they brought This is Prague to life, finally bringing this much-travelled artist “home” through art and history.