WHO? WHY?

The exhibition WHO? WHY? at Museum Montanelli (Nerudova 13, Prague 1) presents the work of multimedia artist Daniel Pešta (born 1959). Over the past six years, his works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, both in collective projects and in 2024 in a solo exhibition "Something Is Wrong" at Tana Art Space gallery. This collection of works will be presented in the Czech Republic for the first time. Pešta works across various media – from painting and watercolor to objects, installations, videos, and assemblages. In his works, he analyzes the "gene of evil" encoded in the deep nature of certain individuals who fundamentally shape the fate of others. Pešta poses the questions WHO? WHY? together with American psychologist Philip Zimbardo, who systematically studied "evil" – particularly the critical "moment of cruelty," when a so-called decent person becomes a heartless monster. Zimbardo found a parallel in the transformation of the fallen angel Lucifer into the embodiment of evil – Satan. At the center of Pešta's attention are psychological, philosophical, and political themes. The question of the future becomes increasingly important in his work, as technology and informatics have given humanity unprecedented power. The exhibition is curated by Dadja Altenburg Kohl together with the artist. The exhibition is open from September 24, 2025 to March 29, 2026, Wednesday to Sunday 14:00–18:00 (at other times only by prior telephone arrangement). Admission: adults 100 CZK, students with ISIC card 50 CZK, groups of 8 or more 50 CZK/person, seniors 65+, disabled visitors, and children under 14 free. Guided tours are available in Czech, English, and German – by request.