About the People and Horses of MORAVIAN WALLACHIA

From July 14 to August 9, 2026, the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography is hosting the documentary photography exhibition “About the People and Horses of Moravian Wallachia” by Czech photographer Josef Vrážel.

About the Exhibition

Moravian Wallachia, a region in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, is a land of vast forests, pastures and hard, rocky soil. Life has never been easy here, for either the people or the horses that once worked the land. In the tough conditions of the forest, horses hauled logs, ploughed fields and accompanied their owners on journeys, often carrying or pulling heavy loads. Although their role has changed over time, the deep bond between humans and horses has remained the same. Josef Vrážel’s photographs capture the many facets of this relationship, from traditional occupations carried out with the help of horses to horse racing.

The photographer focuses not only on the horses, but also on the people who live alongside them, revealing a distinctive community and evoking a unique bond and deep connection between humans and animals. The exhibition was originally conceived as an exhibition project of the Valašsko Regional Museum and features 12 black-and-white photographs, as well as authentic equestrian artefacts.

The opening will take place on July 14, at 3:00 p.m., at the Cellarium Gallery. The version hosted in Cluj-Napoca has been adapted for a Romanian audience, with translated exhibition panels.

About the Photographer

Josef Vrážel (b. 1966, Vsetín) grew up in the town of Karolinka, located in Moravian Wallachia, where he still lives today. Initially focusing on landscape photography, he gradually became more interested in people’s stories and documentary photography. His artistic practice centers on long-term photographic projects, which allow him to gain a deeper understanding of both places and people. His main source of inspiration is the region where he lives—Moravian Wallachia—and its inhabitants. The central themes of his work include the relationship between people and horses, spiritual motifs, and the simple daily lives of people who live in close connection with nature.

About the Organizers

The exhibition “About the People and Horses of Moravian Wallachia” is organized in collaboration with the Valašsko Regional Museum and the Cluj County Council, as part of a project co-funded by the European Union. The partnership between the two museums originated through Erasmus projects focused on adult education, which facilitated the exchange of best practices between the two institutions.

The Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, an institution under the authority of the Cluj County Council, promotes the ethnographic and cultural heritage of Transylvania through a diverse exhibition program open to international collaborations. The Museum of the Valašsko Region manages five sites in the Moravian Wallachia region (Czech Republic): Vsetín Castle, Kinský Castle in Valašské Meziříčí, Lešná Castle, the Church of the Holy Trinity in Valašské Meziříčí, and the Vsetín Astronomical Observatory, through which it presents the region’s history, nature, science, and traditions to the public.

The Museum of the Valašsko Region manages five sites in the Moravian Wallachia region of the Czech Republic: Vsetín Castle; Kinský Castle in Valašské Meziříčí; Lešná Castle; the Church of the Holy Trinity in Valašské Meziříčí; and the Vsetín Astronomical Observatory. Through these sites, the museum presents the region’s history, nature, science and traditions to the public.

The photography exhibition “About the People and Horses of Moravian Wallachia,” by Czech photographer Josef Vrážel, will be on display from 14 July to 9 August at the Transylvanian Museum of Ethnography, 21 Memorandum’s Street, Cluj-Napoca.