Video Alphabet

Video Alphabet (2021) is part of the permanent exhibition of the Memorial of National Literature / Museum of Literature called The World of Reading. It complements its section The Alphabet of Poetism, with which it is visually and thematically connected. The video was created based on the significant poetist work from 1926, the poetry collection Abeceda (Alphabet) by Vítězslav Nezval, presented in the avant-garde typographic design by Karel Teige.

Video Abeceda draws from poetist principles, which it develops in a contemporary way. It is a team effort: the visual design is by painter Vladimír Houdek; the dance aspects were taken care of by choreographer and dancer Hana Polanská Turečková; the sound was created by singer Ema Katrovas; and the film was shot and edited by Ivan Svoboda.

The film is black and white, similar to avant-garde films from the 1920s, and uses the technique of montage. Dance scenes unfold in the background of the images. The choreography expresses the feelings evoked by the letters of the alphabet. This is also reflected in the accompanying singing. It is not words that are sung, but letters.

The film was kindly provided by the Memorial of National Literature/Museum of Literature of the Czech Republic in Prague.