In Brtnice, the autobiography of architect Hoffmann was presented

Brtnice (Jihlava) - The work and life of the significant architect Josef Hoffmann (1870 - 1956), born in Brtnice in the Jihlava region, is presented in an autobiography published by the Moravian Gallery in collaboration with the Austrian Museum of Applied Contemporary Art. This is the first complete Czech edition of Hoffmann's text, curator of the gallery Martina Straková told ČTK yesterday. The launch of the new book took place in the birthplace of Josef Hoffmann.
    "It is a readable and interesting text, maximally accessible to laypeople," Straková noted. Hoffmann, who influenced the development of architecture and design in the first half of the 20th century through his work, spent most of his life in Austria. He wrote his memories and comments around the years 1948 to 1950. "It is truly a unique work. Most creators do not write their biographies," Straková said.
    The autobiography was published in German in 1972, and part of it was released in the Czech Republic in the late 1990s. The new edition has been supplemented with extensive notes. "A sort of encyclopedia of modernity of its kind has been created," noted Straková. Details about Hoffmann's family have also been added. The text has now been published not only in Czech but also in German and English. The publication of the book is part of a project funded by the European Union.
    Hoffmann studied architecture at the Vienna Academy. In 1897, he participated with Gustav Klimt and other artists in founding the Association of Visual Artists of Austria — Secession. A pivotal point in Hoffmann's career was the establishment of the Wiener Werkstätte artistic workshops in 1903. This architect made his mark in nearly all fields of applied arts: he designed glass, porcelain, metals, jewelry, furniture, and patterned textile collections.
    Hoffmann liked to return to Brtnice. He adapted his family home in 1907 and gradually focused examples of his own work there. However, in 1945, the building was confiscated and subsequently deteriorated. The city of Brtnice undertook its reconstruction in 2003. This summer, a new permanent Hoffmann exhibition was opened in the house. This was prepared by the Moravian Gallery in collaboration with the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts.