“One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.” Thus begins The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, one of 20th century’s most famous novellas. And now you can experience a Kafkaesque metamorphosis without having to go through an unsettling night. On 24 January 2018, the Goethe-Institut in Prague opens a Kafka-inspired virtual reality space called PROMĚNA VR [METAMORPHOSIS VR].

“The fantastic PROMĚNA VR three-dimensional installation presents this original work of world literature in virtual reality, in which you – rather than Gregor Samsa – are the protagonist,” says Jakob Ráček, Goethe-Institut's Head of Programming. “We have created a miniature version of Gregor’s room from The Metamorphosis and will transport visitors into the room thanks to VR glasses. Visitors can then get a first-hand experience of what it is like to be transformed into an insect.”

How does it work? The Goethe-Institut’s first storey features a replica of Gregor Samsa’s room. You enter Gregor’s room with the help of special VR glasses that transport you into a world of virtual reality, a world in which everything you know feels strangely foreign – including your own body. Just like Gregor Samsa, you first have to learn how to direct your new body. You begin by slowly moving around the room, a faithful replica of the literary original, while behind the door your family and boss loudly demand their own entry. Gregor’s bed and table become yours, as do his legs and feelers. Your metamorphosis progresses with the help of acoustic and visual effects.

The PROMĚNA VR three-dimensional installation is a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and the Czech start-up team assembled around the Art Manager and Director Mika Johnson, faculty member at the Prague Film School. The installation is on display at the Goethe-Institut in Prague for free until 31 March 2018.

 As an extension to the virtual metamorphosis, the Goethe-Institut library offers a virtual tour guided by Reiner Stach, author of a highly-acclaimed Franz Kafka biography (its second part, Kafka – Roky rozhodování [Kafka: The Decisive Years], has just been published in Czech by Argo). A virtual Reiner Stach introduces visitors to the work of Franz Kafka, drawing attention to the fact that the Prague writer was actually the spiritual founder of virtual reality. “As an ardent cinema-goer and fan of stereoscopic pictures, [Franz Kafka] imagined already a hundred years ago that one day the two-dimensional image would merge with the depth dimension to create an entirely new and a completely illusory reality,” says Stach.

Kafka’s fondness of cinema will also be presented to audiences of Kino Goethe in four screenings of short films that Franz Kafka liked to watch and discussed and commented on in his diaries and letters. The screenings at Kino Goethe will take place on 30 January, 14 February and 13 and 20 March 2018.

What? Thematic art installation PROMĚNA VR [METAMORPHOSIS VR]

When? From 24 January to 31 March 2018

Official opening: 24 January 2018, 18:00

PROMĚNA VR opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 13:00-19:00, Friday 11:00-17:00

Where? Goethe-Institut, Masarykovo nábřeží 32, Praha 1

Free admission

More information is available from: Tomáš Moravec | Goethe-Institut | + 420 721 434 624 | tomas.moravec@prag.goethe.org | www.goethe.de/promenavr