Atrocity Exhibition

Welcome to the Institute of Behavioral Studies - a theatrical simulation where you can experience war safely and firsthand!

The staging of "Atrocity Exhibition" draws on the experimental novella by English writer J. G. Ballard of the same name, which explores the human brain's inability to process the atrocities humanity committed in the 20th century. The protagonist, a scientist studying human behavior, becomes so obsessed with them that he begins creating theatrical re-enactments - such as the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima or napalm bombing in Vietnam.

The production builds on a staged reading of the same name that Divadlo Láska organized on May 23, 2023 in Brno, on the eve of the opening of the international defense and security technology fair IDET held there every three years. The fair overlooks the controversies of the arms industry and contributes to weapons being perceived as ordinary goods - similar to agricultural machinery, automobiles, or education.

But due to the situation in Ukraine, weapons have truly become part of everyday life. It is not just about a specific rifle model or the latest howitzer - the most powerful weapons of our time are media, censorship, and disinformation. A network of satellites that can turn internet access on or off anywhere in the world is today the strongest weapon of all. Such power concentrated in the hands of individuals makes them almost gods - gods of war, whose ideology is economic growth. For its sake, they are willing to sacrifice land, divide society, or even an entire continent.

But do not be afraid - the Institute of Behavioral Studies exists precisely to predict the development of the war situation. Trust only reports from the Institute! After all, perhaps there is no real war at all.