The Mad Silkman Exhibition, which takes place at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, captivated me with its name, but also with an interview with the exhibition curator Konstantina Hlaváčková, broadcast by Czech Radio 2. The preparation of the exhibition lasted 7 years and its implementation meant for the experienced curator the fulfillment of her "museum dream".
The exposition maps the lifelong work of Zika and Lída Ascher. This name and their Ascher brand are completely unknown in the Czech Republic. While in Western Europe they are known as synonyms of gorgeous textile design with a top quality.
Zika Ascher came from a Prague Jewish merchant family, who trade with textiles. Later, Zika and his brother opened a shop, where they both were working with fabrics. Zika was also a good athlete. He enjoyed skiing dangerously and risky, so sports journalists gave him the nickname "Mad Silkman."
Zika fell in love with Lida, a lady who came from a respected Catholic Prague family. When they both wanted to marry each other, Lida's family was against it. Especially her mother, who dropped Lída from the stairs on the wedding day and broke her leg. Despite it all, Zika and Lida were married. They then went on a honeymoon to Norway. At that time, preparations for World War II began, and after their honeymoon, the couple decided to escape to London. So they did not return to Bohemia.
In London, they succeeded in establishing a successful clothing company that was unique in designing and processing fabrics. Zika was able to translate the designs perfectly into the chosen material/fabric. Very popular artists also created ideas for the couple. Artists such as Picasso or Henri Matisse. Ascher's fabrics were so popular that they were massively bought by fashion houses like Dior or Yves Saint Laurent.
Though Lida had no professional education, she had a natural artistic talent. She made her own models under the brand name Lída Ascher from the remaining pieces of fabric.
The whole exhibition was very well arranged and divided into four stages/parts: The stage before World War II, Stage during World War II, The establishment of the company and Cooperation with prominent artists. The exhibition features original fabrics with various printing techniques as well as clothing from world-class fashion designers. For example, Princess Diana's clothing. The Ascher dress was also worn by Queen Elizabeth at age 28.
The exhibition also includes a short film screening, in which we can see the only son of Ascher - Petr Ascher, who now lives in the USA and also works in the textile industry.
I left the exhibition satisfied and excited. I think that Ascher couple are exceptional people, whose work has become a world term.
https://www.upm.cz/en/
From our external collaborator Tereza Kultová