NHK Collection opens at Lidice Gallery
Exhibition | 9 June 2026 - 7 March 2027 | Lidice, Czech Republic
NHK Collection for Lidice opens at Lidice Gallery with a generous donation of 65 artworks from Turkic-speaking artists
The Lidice Art Collection (LAC) at the Lidice Memorial in the Czech Republic presents NHK Collection for Lidice, a new exhibition drawn entirely from the landmark donation of 65 artworks by Huma Kabakci, the Turkish-British custodian and curator of the Nahit & Huma Kabakci Collection (NHK Collection), to LAC. The exhibition opens on 9 June 2026 and runs through 7 March 2027 at the Lidice Gallery. It is the first exhibition to present the donated works to the public and marks the most significant addition to LAC in recent years. The gift highlights artists from Turkic-speaking regions while broadening the LAC's global perspective and fostering dialogue across different geographies and generations.
"Lidice Art Collection stands for solidarity, generosity and memory, and the power of culture to bridge divides. This exhibition brings the NHK Collection's exceptional gift into direct dialogue with the public for the first time, and we are honoured to present it here, in Lidice, a place of tragedy that led to an incredible humanistic response that shows the strength and resiliency of the human spirit." — Dr Eduard Stehlík, Director, Lidice Memorial.
NHK Collection for Lidice exhibition brings together artists whose practices span generations and geographies and resonate directly with Lidice's mission. Artist Volkan Aslan explores half-remembered narratives by manipulating everyday objects into surreal structures. İpek Duben explores themes of identity, feminism, and migration across various media. Işıl Eğrikavuk advances dialogue-based performance rooted in protest and civic imagination. Babi Badalov's visual poetry bends and splices languages to reflect on displacement. Sabina Shikhlinskaya, Azerbaijan's conceptual art pioneer, explores the changing relationship between individuals and society.
"This gift to the Lidice Memorial is both a personal and collective gesture, one that continues my late father's belief in art as a bridge for empathy and dialogue across generations and geographies. By moving works from the NHK Collection into shared public memory, I hope to enrich the institution's holdings, expand its international reach, and deepen public engagement through exhibitions and education. My father collected with a strong regional sensibility that spanned Turkic-speaking countries, the post-Soviet world, and the Balkans, and a handful of Czech artists were already part of that vision. The connection to Lidice felt natural rather than calculated. I try not to lean too heavily on nationality or nationalism; history has always moved through exchange, and so should art. Lidice embraced my father's idea so openly and welcomed me so warmly that it moved me to donate these works here rather than first look to the local Turkish museum. That generosity of spirit is exactly what this kind of giving should feel like, and I hope it marks the beginning of a long and meaningful collaboration between Turkey, the Czech Republic, and beyond." — Huma Kabakci, custodian of the NHK Collection.
The NHK Collection for the Lidice exhibition features renowned artists well known in the region. One of them is Ara Güler. A legendary photojournalist often referred to as the Eye of Istanbul. Another is Ferruh Başağa, an important figure in Turkish modernism. Last but not least, Alexander Kosolapov. He is known for his sharp, pop-influenced juxtapositions, including the iconic "Lenin Coca-Cola," which critiques the intersections of ideology and consumer culture. From the Czech art scene, the NHK Collection for Lidice features František Burant. Born in the nearby village of Železná, sees his work resonate in a new context through this donation.
"This exhibition aligns with our main goal of maintaining a public collection that promotes solidarity as a tool for positive change. NHK Donation creates new opportunities for research, exhibitions, and public programs that link Central Europe with Turkic-speaking cultural communities. NHK Collection for Lidice finally amplifies underrepresented voices in the Czech Republic that are relevant today." — Miloslav Vorlíček, Head of Lidice Art Collection
The Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design, Prague (UMPRUM) is partnering on the delivery of the exhibition's visual identity. The Type Design and Typography Programme, led by Filip Kraus, a Czech graphic designer, typographer, educator, and writer, is collaborating with Lidice Art Collection to stage a competition for students to deliver the exhibition's visual identity. The selected design will be used throughout the exhibition. This collaboration empowers early-career graphic designers and creative professionals. It aligns with the Lidice Art Collection's Strategy 2026–2030.
A press event will be held on Monday, 9 June 2026, at 10 am at the Lidice Gallery, Tokajícká 152, 273 54 Lidice, ahead of the public opening at 5 pm on the same day. The press event will be attended by Huma Kabakci, custodian of the NHK Collection; Dr Eduard Stehlík, Director of the Lidice Memorial; Ruth Noack, member of the LAC Council; and Miloslav Vorlíček, Head of the Lidice Art Collection. Media representatives are invited to attend. RSVP details below.
The Lidice Art Collection was established through solidarity and continues to grow as a public resource for research, exhibitions, and education. NHK Collection for Lidice is a direct expression of that founding principle, presenting an exceptional private gift as a permanent contribution to the public record.