Golemet – What Do We Carry Without Having Lived It Ourselves?
How do experiences of the past become inscribed in the lives of future generations? How is trauma transmitted—consciously and unconsciously—and how does it shape human relationships? This discussion with psychotherapists Věra Roubalová and Dana Pokorná will focus on the intergenerational transmission of trauma, from psychological and relational patterns to biological contexts. It will explore how the past is reactivated in the present and how we can work with this legacy consciously. The discussion will be moderated by Pavlína Šulcová, director of the Bubny Center for Memory and Dialogue.
The discussion is part of the accompanying programme to the exhibition by artists Tamara Moyzes and Shlomi Yaffe. The exhibition presents Golemet as a symbol of protection for the Jewish minority and is based on contemporary testimonies of Jewish women from Central Europe, as well as research on intergenerational trauma. The project opens up themes of trauma transmission, the importance of empathy, and the dangers of rising antisemitism in Europe.
The figure of Golemet—a female reinterpretation of the Prague Golem—is created with the help of artificial intelligence as an inanimate vessel into which real testimonies of Czech and Slovak Jewish women are embedded. In this way, human emotions and trauma are infused into the inanimate, bringing to life a symbol of protection, resilience, and shared consciousness shaped by inherited and collective memory.
BIOS
Věra Roubalová is a psychotherapist and supervisor who has long been working with families affected by the Holocaust. After signing Charter 77 and facing political persecution, she was able to fully develop her professional career only after 1989. She specializes in trauma therapy and its transmission across generations. For twenty years, she led the psychotherapy group Families after the Holocaust at the Rafael Centre of the Rafael Institute. She also works extensively with refugees, including those arriving from Ukraine.
Dana Pokorná is a psychotherapist specializing in trauma in the context of sexual and domestic violence. She studied social work and social policy at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. She completed psychotherapeutic training at the Rafael Institute in Prague, focused on Holocaust trauma. She lectures on domestic violence at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, as part of lifelong learning programmes. She is co-author of the publication Intimate Partner Violence and founder of the Institute for Trauma-Sensitive Approach.
Info
Discussion | Psychotherapists – Věra Roubalová and Dana Pokorná
Moderator Pavlína Šulcová
Dates | 30 April 2026, 18:00
Venue | Fotograf Zone Gallery
Admission | Free
Exhibition | Golemet
Artists | Tamara Moyzes & Shlomi Yaffe
Curator | Světlana Malina
Duration | 22 April – 11 June 2026
Venue | Fotograf Zone Gallery
Opening Hours | Mon–Thu, 13:00–19:00
Golemet – What Do We Carry Without Having Lived It Ourselves?
How do experiences of the past become inscribed in the lives of future generations? How is trauma transmitted—consciously and unconsciously—and how does it shape human relationships? This discussion with psychotherapists Věra Roubalová and Dana Pokorná will focus on the intergenerational transmission of trauma, from psychological and relational patterns to biological contexts. It will explore how the past is reactivated in the present and how we can work with this legacy consciously. The discussion will be moderated by Pavlína Šulcová, director of the Bubny Center for Memory and Dialogue.
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