Discussion in the Park of Culture and Sighs
Wednesday, 10 February 2026 at 5:00 PM
Ján Koniarek Gallery in Trnava, Zelený kríčok 3
Concept, presentation, and moderation: Martin Zaiček
Guest discussants: Maroš Greš, Martin Kvitkovský
The architectural profession is often presented as a space of freedom, creativity, and prestige. In reality, however, it operates on a model of invisible labor, limitless working hours, and economic insecurity—one that is accessible only to those who can afford it. The discussion will open the question of whether architecture today is still a profession, or merely a lifestyle for the privileged, and why many architects are forced to leave studio practice in favor of more stable forms of work. Common and frequent stories of young professionals leaving renowned studios due to the need for security and social protection have become a symptom of a broader problem: a system that romanticizes precarity, normalizes overwork, and depoliticizes working conditions in the creative professions.
The discussion is part of the Park of Culture and Sighs. At the core of the Park of Culture and Sighs at the Ján Koniarek Gallery in Trnava is a mutable structure made of plastic crates filled with energy drinks—used to keep us in a state of constant productivity, to fight fatigue, and to deny our own limits and needs. The program consists of regular events—performances, discussions, support groups, and workshops—prepared on the basis of an open call by members of the Cultural Unions.
The aim of the event series What Are the Conditions and the Work …? is to name and reflect on working conditions and the situation in individual fields of art and culture. Social and feminist movements have used so-called consciousness-raising groups as a tool of collective emancipation and potential political mobilization. Mutual sharing of personal experiences can have a therapeutic character, but together we can also move toward discussing practical tools and planning strategies to improve the working and social conditions of cultural workers.
The partner of the Park of Culture and Sighs project is KON-RAD spol. s r.o.
