Amerikánka, Etc. | Photography Book

Product detailed description

About the Book

Amerikánka, Etc. is my photography book documenting the world of live theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through 129 photographs, it follows Viktor Tauš's production of Amerikánka, starring Eliška Křenková and Tereza Ramba, as well as other theatre companies and artistic projects that sought new ways to reach audiences while theatres were closed.

The photographs tell not only the story of Amerikánka itself, but above all the story of live culture during an extraordinarily difficult period.

Basic Information

• Publication type: photography book
• Photographer: Tomki Němec
• Number of photographs: 129
• Main subject: Amerikánka and live culture during the pandemic
• Featured projects: Amerikánka, Cirk La Putyka, Vosto5, Losers and others

The Story Behind the Book

How it all happened...

I fell in love with Viktor Tauš's theatre production Amerikánka the very first time I saw it.

The raw energy and power of the story, which I first experienced and photographed in April 2020 inside the hyena enclosure at Dvůr Králové Zoo, completely knocked me off my feet.

Theatres were closed, the pandemic had brought cultural life to a standstill, and Viktor was looking for new ways to bring performances to audiences.

I kept returning to Amerikánka, again and again. I moved like a shadow behind the cameraman, photographing unpredictable moments that made every performance different.

Gradually, other theatre companies joined the live broadcasts – Cirk La Putyka, Vosto5, Losers and others. This led to the creation of Televize NAŽIVO and the Film Naživo platform.

It is these other productions and artists that the "Etc." in the book's title refers to.

During those crazy times, I suggested to Viktor that I would put together a book. But creating it was far from easy. The pandemic turned all our plans upside down. There were paper shortages, and I was running out of energy and strength.

Eventually, we made it happen.

The book remains a reminder of a time when culture refused to give up. When people searched for ways to bring art into living rooms because audiences could no longer go out to experience it themselves.