Out of town!

The exhibition marking Jindřich Štreit’s 80th birthday presents a unique double portrait of this extraordinary figure—both as a photographer and a cultural organizer. However, this is by no means a retrospective of a man who is slowing down. On the contrary. The artist’s exhibition Out of the City!, which runs from May 21 to September 6, 2026, at the Olomouc Museum of Art, demonstrates that vitality, concern for others, and a desire to be active can accompany a person throughout their entire life, regardless of age.

The exhibition highlights two key aspects of Štreit’s work: his photography from the 1980s and his long-standing curatorial work at the former elementary school in Sovinec. Both are united by a single theme — a deep interest in people and their everyday lives.

People First

The first part of the exhibition features previously unpublished photographs from the 1980s, taken in the former Sudetenland. The photographer took these photos at the time but never exhibited them. They are only now coming to life after many decades.

This is not merely a documentary of rural life before 1989. Štreit captures interpersonal relationships, traditions, and the joys and hardships of everyday life. In his images, the village becomes a microcosm of society as a whole. Here we see both solidarity and loneliness, fatigue and hope.

What is essential, however, is that his photographs are neither sensationalist nor detached criticism. They arose from a personal relationship, from trust, and from long-term contact with the local people. Štreit never stood on the sidelines. He was part of the environment he photographed. And it is precisely this humanity that gives his photographs their power, even decades later.

The courage to create even in difficult times

The second part of the exhibition highlights Štreit’s curatorial work at Sovinec, where, beginning in 1974, he created a meeting place for artists outside of official cultural centers. During the period of normalization, under the watchful eye of censors and state authorities, he managed to establish a space for the free exchange of ideas and creative work.

The year 1982 marked a dramatic turning point—he was charged with defaming the republic. This experience would have broken many people. For him, however, it strengthened his resolve to continue. Even though he could exhibit only on a limited basis and mostly in alternative venues, he never stopped creating or supporting others.

Activity as a way of life

Jindřich Štreit’s life shows that being active is not a matter of age, but of attitude. Throughout his life, he has been interested in social issues, in people on the margins of society, and in those whose voices are rarely heard. He has photographed seniors, people with disabilities, and people facing difficult life situations—always with respect and empathy.

His story can be an inspiration: each of us can do our part within our own means. Some help through photography, others through volunteering, caring for loved ones, or looking out for their neighbors. The important thing is not to remain indifferent.

The exhibition Out of the City! does not, in essence, look back to the past. Rather, it shows that even at eighty, one can be full of energy, curiosity, and a desire to create. And that an active life, openness toward others, and a willingness to help give old age both depth and meaning.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)