Three Worlds

After its opening, the Imperial Baths quickly became one of the centers of social life and gathering. Significant European and global personalities who visited the baths greatly contributed to shaping the genius loci of Karlovy Vary. The baths served their guests for almost a hundred years until their operations were ceased in the 1990s.

What significance does spa culture hold in the context of today? Even though Karlovy Vary is part of the West Bohemian Spa Triangle and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the connection between the historical and current content of spa culture is challenging to find. Therefore, we utilized the tool of multimedia archaeology and delved into the sources that shaped the spa culture during the golden era of the 19th century and later in the 20th century.

In the first part of the exhibition, THE WORLD OF HISTORY, we tell the story of spa culture in a humorous and relaxed manner. Restored model bathrooms, returned to their original form, are filled with educational elements that bring the global context of spa culture closer to the viewer, from Antiquity to the Orient, the history of the Imperial Baths, and traditional healing procedures. We use hand-drawn animations that lighten the theme and remove any didactic overlay.

In the WORLD OF PERSONALITIES, we have revived the preserved bathrooms with ephemeral immersive projections that depict the significant figures of the Imperial Baths in symbolic situations. These situations define the personalities through simple gestures while also showing them during various spa procedures. Each illusion, through image, light, and sound, represents the ethos of the time and is unique in its presentation—from delicate scenes to more expressive images.

In the WORLD OF MACRO-NATURE, we explore the natural resources of the region, the formation of peat, and the unique biodiversity associated with it. The immersive projection allows viewers to travel through different scales, speeds, and worlds. One moment, we observe workers harvesting peat; moments later, we journey through the world of mammals, small insects, or aquatic algae. The visitor thus discovers the diverse flora and fauna of the Slavkov Forest.

THE THREE WORLDS form a vibrant collage of the personalities who visited the baths, the latest archaeological speculations, and the fascinating universe of natural heritage. All of this is presented through an eclectic palette of artistic forms that seek to blur the lines between what is serious and humorous, what is intended for children and what for adults.

The exhibition captures the spirit of the 20th century against the backdrop of the evolution of spa culture. It encourages visitors to reflect more deeply on how contemporary life can be connected with the historical experience of the region, its natural wealth with the modern development of the city, and last but not least, what the significance of spa culture will be in an uncertain future.