Arnošt Beneš – a native of the city of Třebíč – a personality gifted with many talents

In my free time, I am interested in the history of my native Třebíč and often walk through the Jewish quarter, which hides incredible stories. That is why I went with great interest to the Malý Mehrin in Brno on February 27, 2025 to the exhibition about Arnošt Beneš, a native of Třebíč. And I must say that I was thrilled.

His story is not only about art, but also about the Jewish community that was an integral part of Třebíč and Moravia. Walking through the exhibition and seeing photographs from his life was like leafing through an old family album. Knowing that it happened here, in our city, is very interesting to me.

In Little Mehrin, I was also interested in the installation of a family tree from the part of the story that was being told. It served very well as a guide.
The comments from the grandchildren, Petr and Jiří, were so personal that I felt like they were born for it. Their engaging narration lasted over an hour and introduced me to Arnošt Beneš as a person with incredible talent and passion for art. We also had the opportunity to listen to a short audio recording from Mrs. Urbanová, the grandchildren's mother, which added another layer of personal memories and emotions.

It seems incredible that so much has been preserved from Mr. Beneš. He loved filming and photographing, which is why a large amount of material has been preserved, which is extremely valuable for us as Třebíč residents, and not only for them. And what's great is that an exhibition is also being planned in Třebíč, which I'm really looking forward to.
Pan Beneš by byl určitě moc rád a zcela jistě si to zaslouží. Je moc smutné, že se pan Beneš nemohl dožít vyššího věku a bohužel zemřel v místě, kde skončily životy mnoha tisíců židovských obyvatel. I proto je třeba si tento příběh připomínat.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn about the story of Arnošt Beneš and I recommend that you go to the exhibition too.

I am also attaching a few documentary photos from this exhibition.

Arnošt Beneš inspired me to become even more interested in the history of my region and the people who created it.
The Arnošt Beneš exhibition in Malý Mehrin is one of the most powerful artistic experiences of this year for me, and I believe it will remain that way.

Jan Kratochvíl, 28.02.2025