Poetry jukebox, Interactive poetry installation in Smíchov, Czech Republic

The Poetry Jukebox at Hřbitov Malvazinky is a bent iron tube rising from the pavement by the main entrance. Built in 2021 to a design by Ondřej Kobza, it lets visitors select recordings of writers buried in the cemetery, such as Egon Bondy, Ladislav Klíma, Mejla Hlavsa, Milan Machovec and Petr Lébl, as well as songs by Eva Pilarová and Karel Gott.

The installation was created in 2021 by Ondřej Kobza, a Czech cultural activist working to bring interactive art into public spaces. This project emerged as part of a broader effort to integrate contemporary art forms into communities.

The installation features poems connected to Czech literary traditions and voices from the region. By selecting different recordings, visitors engage with works that reflect local artistic expression and community perspectives.

The device is straightforward to use and located in a quiet cemetery setting where visitors can listen to poems without rushing. The buttons are clearly marked, allowing you to easily navigate between different recordings at your own pace.

The jukebox stands by the main entrance of Malvazinky Cemetery, and its playlist is drawn from people buried there: the poets Egon Bondy, Ladislav Klíma and Petr Lébl, the philosopher Milan Machovec, the underground musician Mejla Hlavsa, plus songs sung by Eva Pilarová and Karel Gott.