R. I. P. When I got the news about his death yesterday, right here we had the 24-hours Satie’s Vexations, the project by Cluster Ensemble was named Silent Night. I have to admit - I was glad there wasn’t something else and we didn’t have to turn off the sound. Three lines for the piano, which were repeated again and again, without that one was able to remember the piece, acquired for some of us a whole new (pious?) dimension.

When we searched in 2003 a personality to open Stanica cultural centre, at that time in entirely disintegrated railway building with cultural vision, we first came with his name. It was not real, we knew we would need a small stadium and not a small station to accommodate all the people coming. But this idea has come back for a few times again and we didn’t mind at all that was unrealistic. It remained as a challenge. One of those challenges, which are not realistic and still aren’t meaningless because they are driving us to do things (so that we could also invite Havel one day). To date (and I hope godmother of Stanica, Mrs. Magda Vášáryová isn’t offended) I can’t imagine a better person and a greater honor.

Václav Havel, in fact, has been here many times. He appeared in movies, in debates, exhibitions and theatrical performances. In the recordings, documents, through the texts. Particularly in the Memory Kontrol project, which every year makes us to cope with our generational commitment to freedom and to examine the recent history that directly influences and affects our lives. One of the people, and perhaps most important, to whom we thank for this freedom, yesterday passed away and we are sincerely sorry. Rest in peace, Mr. President. We are committed to go on.

Marek Adamov, December 19, 2011

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P. S. If every time after each president such a library has remained would not have to fight with no-culture:
Václav Havel’s Library - www.vaclavhavel-library.org