Exhibit on modern Czech architecture from Negros launched in Prague

A special exhibition on the works of Czech architect Antonín Raymond, who built the renowned Church of the Angry Christ (St. Joseph the Worker Church, in photo) in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was recently launched in the distinguished Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in Prague. The foremost Czech and US architect is also known as the founder of modern architecture in Japan.

Dubbed by the CCP Encyclopedia as the first ever sample of modern sacral architecture in the Philippines, the Church of the Angry Christ was built by Raymond from 1948 – 1950, and featured earthquake resistant construction and sustainability to the tropical climate.

Home to the iconic and unique mural of the so called “Angry Christ” by Alfonso Ossorio, the church is an epitome of the vibrancy of religious art in the Philippines. Its facades are also decorated with mosaics by Belgian artist Ade Bethune. After its completion, the Church of the Angry Christ has become the artistic landmark of the whole of Western Visayas, attracting tourism to this otherwise rarely visited part of Negros.

It is Antonín Raymond’s only work in the Philippines.

According to the Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša: “The exhibition in Fragner Gallery in Prague will focus on only seven of Raymond’s best architectural works —among them is the Church of the Angry Christ.” The exhibit is open in Prague until Dec. 6, continuing to other cities of the country as well as Japan.

Jan Vytopil, deputy head of the mission of the Czech Embassy in Manila, mentions: “Raymond’s studio is still active in Japan nowadays. The exhibition was opened by the chief architect of Raymond’s office and once his disciple, architect Shigefumi Tsuchiya.” The spectacular exhibit shows his work on models, photographs, plans, sketches as well as his personal objects from private collections.

Antonín Raymond was a Czech architect. He was born and studied in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). He later worked in the USA and Japan. Raymond also served as the Consul of Czechoslovakia to Japan from 1926 to 1939 — the year Czech diplomacy was closed down after the occupation of the European country by Nazi Germany.

Raymond’s Czech family did not survive the occupation and the subsequent Holocaust.

The exhibition was supported by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila.