“Impossible and somewhat absurd” – Austrian Architect Designs Milan Kundera’s Tombstone in Brno
The commission to design the tombstone for world-renowned author Milan Kundera was awarded to Austrian architect Johannes Paar. Earlier this year, the city of Brno organized an international art competition to create a fitting grave marker for Kundera.
The celebrated Czech-French writer, known for works such as The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Joke, passed away over two years ago. He had expressed the wish to be buried in his hometown of Brno. After the death of his wife, Věra, plans were made for a joint burial.
Kundera’s decision to return to Brno for burial carries deep symbolic meaning, reflecting a complex relationship with his homeland. Having emigrated from communist Czechoslovakia in 1975, Kundera settled in France, became a French citizen in 1981, and shifted to writing in French, distancing himself from his native country.
“Of course, I also see this as a symbolic return — to be buried in a cemetery in his hometown. In this respect, I bear a great responsibility in designing his tombstone,”
said Johannes Paar, who was chosen among 38 submissions by Brno’s city council.
Paar shared his thoughts with Radio Prague International about the design concept and the appearance of the finished tombstone, emphasizing the significance of honoring Kundera’s complex legacy through his work.
Author’s summary: Johannes Paar’s design for Milan Kundera’s tombstone in Brno symbolizes the author’s poignant return to his origins, blending respect for his legacy with artistic responsibility.