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Culture

Can We Love Artistic Works While Hating Their Creators?

A Slovak cultural publication has examined one of the most persistent dilemmas facing art enthusiasts: whether it is possible to appreciate and love artistic works while simultaneously disapproving of or even hating their creators. The piece explores different approaches to this fan dilemma, which has gained particular relevance in recent years as public awareness of artists' personal conduct and beliefs has increased. The discussion touches on the complex relationship between artistic merit and the moral character of creators, a debate that spans literature, film, music, and other creative fields where audiences must navigate their emotional responses to both the art and the artist.

Dennik N
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Culture

Psychiatrists Analyze Popular Dating Reality Show's Impact on Relationships

Mental health professionals are examining the psychological dynamics of "Ruža pre nevestu" (Rose for the Bride), a popular Slovak reality dating show. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Magdalena Frecer describes the program as a social experiment that intensifies participants' emotions by confining them in a closed environment with constant alcohol consumption and scripted elements designed to provoke unpredictable reactions. The format portrays relationships as a competition for the favor of a dominant male figure, though experts suggest this representation differs significantly from real-world relationship dynamics. The show's popularity has prompted discussion about how reality television influences public perceptions of romantic relationships and dating culture in Slovakia.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Reality Show 'Rose for the Bride' Creates Artificial Competition for Male Attention, Experts Say

Mental health professionals are analyzing the popular Slovak reality show 'Rose for the Bride' as a form of social experiment that manipulates participants' emotions and behaviors. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Magdalena Frecer explains that the show creates an artificial environment where contestants are constantly together in a confined but luxurious setting, with alcohol provided and scripted elements designed to provoke unpredictable reactions. The format presents relationships as a competition for the favor of a dominant male figure, though experts note this does not reflect real-world relationship dynamics. The show has become one of Slovakia's most successful reality television formats, drawing significant viewer interest despite concerns about its psychological impact on participants.

Dennik N
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Culture

Japanese Ambassador to Award Prize for Best Bonsai at Slovak Botanical Garden Exhibition

A botanical garden in Slovakia is hosting an exhibition of eighty unique bonsai trees, where the Japanese ambassador will personally award a prize for the most beautiful specimen. The exhibition offers visitors not only a chance to admire the miniature trees but also to explore the deep Asian philosophy behind the ancient art of bonsai cultivation. The event represents a cultural bridge between Slovakia and Japan, highlighting the meditative and philosophical aspects of this traditional Japanese practice that transforms ordinary trees into living works of art through careful cultivation and pruning techniques.

Korzár
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Culture

Orange Podcast of the Year 2026 Announces Nominations, Public Voting Begins

The jury has selected 55 Slovak podcasts to compete for public votes across 11 categories in the Orange Podcast of the Year competition. The fourth edition of the contest features record participation from independent creators and nearly double the number of entries in the Klapka category for best video podcast. The competition now moves to the public voting phase, where audiences will determine the winners in each category.

Aktuality
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Culture

German Neo-Expressionist Pioneer Georg Baselitz Dies

Georg Baselitz, the influential German painter who pioneered neo-expressionism, has died. The artist made an indelible mark on art history with his groundbreaking 1969 decision to paint and display his works upside down, a radical approach that became his signature style and challenged traditional artistic conventions. Baselitz's inverted paintings became a defining characteristic of his work, establishing him as one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary German art.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Slovak Culture Fund Awards Tens of Thousands of Euros to Disinformation Websites

The Fund for the Promotion of Arts (FPU), Slovakia's state cultural funding agency, has awarded tens of thousands of euros to disinformation websites through a grant program originally designed for cultural media outlets. The fund bypassed recommendations from its evaluation committees in making these awards. The FPU operates under the Ministry of Culture and is responsible for distributing state funding to support arts and cultural projects across Slovakia. This development raises concerns about the misuse of public cultural funding and the state's role in potentially supporting outlets that spread false information.

SME
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Culture

New Crafting Magazine Features Knitting and Crocheting Inspiration

A special edition of the magazine Ona Vie focusing on knitting and crocheting has been released for sale. The publication offers extensive creative inspiration for yarn enthusiasts looking to explore the world of handicrafts through both crocheting and knitting techniques.

SME
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Culture

Venice Biennale Jury Resigns Week Before Exhibition Opens

The jury for the Venice Biennale art exhibition resigned just one week before the prestigious international event was scheduled to begin. The resignation came one week after the jury announced it would exclude countries from receiving awards if the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for their leaders on war crimes charges. The Venice Biennale is one of the world's most important contemporary art exhibitions, featuring national pavilions from countries around the globe and awarding prizes for outstanding artistic contributions.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Slovak Public Television Reports Viewership Growth in First Quarter

Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) reported increased viewership for its news programming during the first quarter of the year. The public broadcaster now holds the most-watched political discussion program in the Slovak market with "O 5 minút 12" (5 Minutes Past 12). STVR serves as Slovakia's public broadcasting service, funded by the state and tasked with providing news and programming to the Slovak public. The viewership increase comes as Slovak media landscape continues to evolve, with public television competing against commercial broadcasters for audience attention in news and political programming.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Czech Puppet Character Hurvínek Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The beloved Czech wooden puppet character Hurvínek is marking his 100th birthday, despite still appearing as an energetic eight-year-old schoolboy who bounces around enthusiastically and fidgets constantly. The puppet, who has worn down his wooden shoes from all his playful antics, survived both Nazi and communist regimes throughout his century-long existence. Prague's Theatre of Spejbl and Hurvínek is currently putting finishing touches on preparations for the centenary celebrations of this enduring puppet character who has entertained generations of children and adults.

Dennik N
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Culture

Dutch Historian Warns Western Civilization Lacks Courage, Not Talent in New Book

Dutch historian and philosopher Rutger Bregman argues in his new book "Moral Revolution" that Western civilization is collapsing from within due to the rise of unscrupulous individuals and the flight of talented people into meaningless professions. Bregman draws parallels between current conditions and the decline of historical empires, but offers a potential solution. He contends that instead of additional regulations, the West needs moral ambition - the ability to use education and power to solve the world's real problems. The book excerpt suggests that Western society's fundamental problem is not a lack of talent, but rather a shortage of courage to address genuine challenges.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Daily Launches Absurdist Podcast Series

Denník N, a prominent Slovak daily newspaper, has launched a new podcast series with an absurdist theme. The podcast appears to take an unconventional approach to content, as suggested by its unusual title referencing Ľudovít Štúr, the 19th-century Slovak linguist and politician who codified the Slovak literary language, and his alleged dislike of lobsters. The publication describes the podcast as 'absurd,' indicating it likely employs surreal or unconventional storytelling methods rather than traditional journalistic formats.

Dennik N
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Culture

Winners Announced in Regional Round of Amateur Art Competition in Bratislava

The Bratislava region announced winners of the regional round of the Visual Spectrum 2026 competition, a nationwide contest for amateur visual artists. The ceremony took place on April 22, 2026, at the National Enlightenment Center in Bratislava and was combined with an exhibition opening featuring the winning artworks. The Visual Spectrum is an annual competition that provides a platform for non-professional artists across Slovakia to showcase their creative work, with regional rounds leading to a national final.

Bratislavský kraj
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Culture

Director of Slovak Theatre Institute Resigns, Citing Lack of Government Support

The director of Slovakia's Theatre Institute has resigned from her position, expressing frustration with the Ministry of Culture's failure to deliver on promises. Vakulová stated she no longer believes the ministry's commitments and felt that cultural institutions were not being heard by government officials. The Theatre Institute serves as the country's central research and documentation body for theatrical arts, supporting professional theater development and maintaining archives of Slovak theatrical heritage.

SME
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Culture

Saturday Walking Tour in Trenčín to Feature Historic Streets

A guided walking tour will take place on Saturday in Trenčín, focusing on the city's well-known streets and their historical significance. The tour guide has prepared a presentation about an area that was originally covered by gardens and small farms before urban development transformed the landscape.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

New Book Examines Post-Holocaust Jewish Experience in Košice After 1945

A new scholarly monograph explores the largely untold story of Holocaust survivors who returned to Košice after World War II, revealing the challenges they faced in rebuilding their lives in postwar Slovakia. Historian Patrícia Fogelová's book "Return of the Unreliable? Loyalty, Bureaucracy and Post-War Holocaust Survival in Košice, 1945-1948" examines how Jewish survivors encountered bureaucratic obstacles and language restrictions, including prohibitions on speaking Hungarian at home. The work uses a microhistorical approach to provide a ground-level perspective on major political events of the era, focusing on previously marginalized aspects of post-Holocaust recovery. Košice, Slovakia's second-largest city located in the eastern part of the country, had a significant Jewish population before the war and serves as a case study for understanding the broader challenges faced by Holocaust survivors across Central Europe during the immediate postwar period.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Literary Critic Reviews Three Historical Books Including Hitler's Food Tasters

Jana Šlinská, a Slovak literary critic, has recommended three historical books in her latest review column. The selection includes "Hitler's Food Tasters," which explores a lesser-known aspect of World War II, "Angela's Ashes," an autobiography about impoverished childhood in Catholic Ireland, and "My Tender Twin," a story of forbidden love and desire that shapes lives. Šlinská praised all three works as excellent reads. She noted particular interest in "The Tasters," a new release from Literárna bašta publishing house, which caught her attention both for its compelling cover design and fascinating subject matter exploring the lives of those who tested Hitler's food for poison.

Dennik N
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Culture

Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier celebrates 70th birthday

Lars von Trier, the renowned Danish filmmaker known for his emotionally intense cinema, turned 70 years old on April 30. Born Lars Trier in 1956 in Lyngby, a suburb of Copenhagen, the director has become one of Europe's most provocative and influential filmmakers. Von Trier is recognized internationally for his distinctive cinematic style that often explores complex psychological themes and pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Jesus Christ Superstar Musical Arrives in Bratislava with New Staging

A new production of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is coming to Bratislava, featuring a contemporary interpretation that places the biblical story in an urban setting. Martin Toman, who plays Jesus in the production, describes the staging as depicting Christ among "garages and concrete walls" where "truth has no incense smoke." The production portrays the apostles not as "polished heroes without shadows" but as "killers, heretics, tax collectors, and prostitutes" in a setting where "life is raw, untidy, and authentic." Toman, who spent a year preparing for the role, views this approach as revealing the original core of Christ's message through a grittier, more realistic lens.

Aktuality
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