Jindřich Štreit – Path to the Spring

This exhibition, celebrating the 80th birthday of the eminent photographer Jindřich Štreit, presents a cross-section of his lifelong work dedicated to humanistic photography. The exhibition offers an insight into the human condition, faith, and everyday life. The display connects two seemingly distinct yet internally interconnected worlds: the raw reality of the Czech village (the cycle Village is the World) and the silent humility of spiritual pilgrimages. The pilgrimage site Hájek, in his depiction, becomes a point where the finiteness of man meets the infinitude of hope. Photographs become a meditation on humility, on the need for ritual, and on the silent dialogue we conduct with ourselves and with that which transcends us. The exhibition concept was created by architect doc. ak. arch. Petr Kovář. Jindřich Štreit (* September 5, 1946, Vsetín) is a Czech documentary photographer, university lecturer, curator, and organizer of cultural life. In his work, he focuses on documenting life in the countryside and the inhabitants of Czech villages. He has also long been involved in social themes concerning drug addicts, the disabled, the blind, prisoners, the elderly, healthcare workers, foreigners, smokers, and homeless people. Another area of his interest is sacred themes. Since 1971, he has been married to his wife Agnes, with whom he has a daughter Monika, a successful flutist. As of 2026, Jindřich Štreit has published over 120 books and had more than 1680 solo exhibitions in the Czech Republic and abroad. He is represented in the most important collections in the Czech Republic, as well as abroad, for example, in The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Štreit considers it his mission to use his projects to highlight problems in society that are marginalized and without much interest. The grand opening took place on Tuesday, July 7. The exhibition was opened by Jana Bömerová, gallery director, exhibition curator Julie Motyčka, and prof. Jindřich Štreit.