Blažej Baláž
Encyclopedia
Blažej Baláž is a contemporary Slovak artist. His practise as an artist is usually associated with Neo-conceptualism, Postminimalism, Post-Geo and Post Radical Painting. After 1988 he began working with text as art, neo-conceptual and post-conceptual texts (intext, outtext).
since 1999. He was a founder member of the artists group East of Eden (1998). Since 1979, he has been married to the artist Maria Balazova
.
He lives and works in Trnava
.
He has shown work internationally in exhibitions including the Drawing 1990, Provo, USA (1990), Vth International Drawing Triennale, Wrocław (1992), 12th International Biennale of Small Sculpture, Murska Sobota
(1995), International Biennale of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana
(1989, 1995, 1999), Object / Object. Prague
, Czech Museum of Fine Arts (2001), Intertext / From the conceptual to postconceptual text, Ján Koniarek Gallery, Trnava (2009)http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/archive-of-expositions/2009/intertext/, Formats of Transformation 89 – 09 / Seven views on the new Czech and Slovak identity, House of Art, Brno (2009).
Solo exhibitions (retrospective): Geld macht Kunst, Ján Koniarek Gallery, Trnava (2003) http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/, Blažej Baláž Texts 1988/2007, The East Slovak Gallery
, Košice (2007), Museum of Fine Arts, Žilina (2007), SUCHARATOLEST House of Art, Bratislava (2009), WARTEZEIT, Slowakisches Institut Wien (2009), Post-Geo-Text (with Mária Balážová), Slowakisches Institut Berlin (2011).
His works are held in the public collections of Slovak National Gallery
, Bratislava
, National Gallery in Prague
(CZ), Muzeum Archidiecezjalne, Katowice
(PL), Fries Museum, Leeuwarden (NL), Jan Koniarek Gallery, Trnava
http://www.gjk.sk/sk/zbierky/diela-po-r-1945/blazej-balaz//, East Slovakian Gallery Košice
, City Gallery http://www.gmb.sk/en/, Bratislava, Central Slovakian Gallery, Banská Bystrica http://www.ssgbb.sk/.
Life and work
Baláž studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Bratislava and his Magister of Fine Arts degree received in 1983. Baláž has been the Head of Department of Fine Arts Education at the University of TrnavaUniversity of Trnava
The University of Trnava is a college of "university type" based in Trnava, Slovakia.-Historical university:The original Jesuit university was founded in 1635 by the Archbishop of Esztergom, Peter Pázmány. It had a faculty of arts, faculty of theology, faculty of law and faculty of medicine...
since 1999. He was a founder member of the artists group East of Eden (1998). Since 1979, he has been married to the artist Maria Balazova
Mária Balážová
Mária Balážová is a contemporary Slovak artist. Her practise as an artist is usually associated with new geometry, post-geometry and postmodern.-Life and work:...
.
He lives and works in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
.
He has shown work internationally in exhibitions including the Drawing 1990, Provo, USA (1990), Vth International Drawing Triennale, Wrocław (1992), 12th International Biennale of Small Sculpture, Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
(1995), International Biennale of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(1989, 1995, 1999), Object / Object. Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Museum of Fine Arts (2001), Intertext / From the conceptual to postconceptual text, Ján Koniarek Gallery, Trnava (2009)http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/archive-of-expositions/2009/intertext/, Formats of Transformation 89 – 09 / Seven views on the new Czech and Slovak identity, House of Art, Brno (2009).
Solo exhibitions (retrospective): Geld macht Kunst, Ján Koniarek Gallery, Trnava (2003) http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/, Blažej Baláž Texts 1988/2007, The East Slovak Gallery
East Slovak Gallery
The East Slovak Gallery in Košice was founded in 1951 as the first regional gallery in Slovakia.The Baroque-Classical palace-type building was erected in 1779 for the needs of the Abov comitatus council. The building continued to serve as a comitatus hall until 1928...
, Košice (2007), Museum of Fine Arts, Žilina (2007), SUCHARATOLEST House of Art, Bratislava (2009), WARTEZEIT, Slowakisches Institut Wien (2009), Post-Geo-Text (with Mária Balážová), Slowakisches Institut Berlin (2011).
His works are held in the public collections of Slovak National Gallery
Slovak National Gallery
The Slovak National Gallery is a network of galleries in Slovakia. It has its headquarters in Bratislava.The gallery was established by law on 29 July 1949. In Bratislava, it has its displays situated in Esterházy Palace and the Water Barracks which are adjacent to each other...
, Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, National Gallery in Prague
National Gallery in Prague
The National Gallery in Prague is a state-owned art gallery in Prague, Czech Republic. It is housed in different locations within the city, the largest being the Veletržní Palác....
(CZ), Muzeum Archidiecezjalne, Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
(PL), Fries Museum, Leeuwarden (NL), Jan Koniarek Gallery, Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
http://www.gjk.sk/sk/zbierky/diela-po-r-1945/blazej-balaz//, East Slovakian Gallery Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, City Gallery http://www.gmb.sk/en/, Bratislava, Central Slovakian Gallery, Banská Bystrica http://www.ssgbb.sk/.
Selected solo exhibitions
- Blažej Baláž / Painting, drawing, installations, Central Slovakian Gallery, Banská BystricaBanská BystricaBanská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 81,281 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia...
, 1 July - 16 August 1992 (catalogue) - Postscriptum II, City Gallery of Bratislava, BratislavaBratislavaBratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, 16 December 1993 – 30 January 1994 - Gutten Tag, Frau Koppl, Jan Koniarek Gallery, TrnavaTrnavaTrnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
, 18 February – 23 March 1997 - Geld macht frei, Vojtech Löffler Museum, KošiceKošiceKošice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, 15 November – 30 December 2000 (catalogue) - Mária and Blažej Baláž : The Discreet Charm of the Painting , House of Art, Česke BudějoviceCeské BudejoviceČeské Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
, 27 March – 21 April 2002 - Geld macht Kunst, Jan Koniarek Gallery, TrnavaTrnavaTrnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
, 12 June – 18 August 2003 - Texts 1988 / 2007, The East-Slovakian Gallery, KošiceKošiceKošice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, 21 June – 23 July 2007 (catalogue); - Texts 1988 / 2007, Museum of Fine Arts, ŽilinaŽilinaŽilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a...
, 13 September – 14 October 2007 (catalogue); - SUCHARATOLEST, House of Art, BratislavaBratislavaBratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, 13 May – 8 June 2009 - WARTERAUM , Slowakisches Institut, ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 27 May – 22 June 2009 (catalogue); - Conceptual texts, Liptov Gallery of P. M. Bohúň, Liptovský MikulášLiptovský MikulášLiptovský Mikuláš is a town in northern Slovakia, on the Váh River. It lies in the Liptov region, in Liptov Basin near the Low Tatra and Tatra mountains...
, 10 February – 9 April 2011 - Mária Balážová-Blažej Baláž : Post-Geo-Text, Slowakisches Institut, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 14 April – 30 May 2011
Selected group exhibitions
- Art Basel 19´88, BaselBaselBasel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland, 1988 - 18th International Print Biennale, Moderna galerija, LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, Slovenia, 1989 - Ľ Europe des Graveurs, GrenobleGrenobleGrenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, Bibliothèque Municipale, France, 1989 - Drawing 1990, ProvoProvoProvo was a Dutch counterculture movement in the mid-1960s that focused on provoking violent responses from authorities using non-violent bait. It was preceded by the nozem movement and followed by the hippie movement...
, USA, 1990 - 9.Internationale Grafik Triennale, FrechenFrechenFrechen is a town in the Rhein-Erft-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Frechen was first mentioned in 877. It is situated at the western Cologne city border....
, Kunstferein zu Frechen, Germany, 1990 - Vth International Drawing Triennale, WroclawWroclawWrocław , situated on the River Oder , is the main city of southwestern Poland.Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia and is today the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, but since 1945...
, Poland, 1992 - 12th International Biennale of Small Sculpture, Murska SobotaMurska SobotaMurska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
, Slovenia, 1995 - Seitenwechsel, HeidelbergHeidelberg-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Heidelberger Schlos, Germany, 1995 - Picturale, Est, StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France, 1997 - Object / Object. Metamorphoses in Time, The Czech Museum of Fine Arts, PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic, 2001 - The Art of Action, 1989-2000, PopradPopradPoprad is a city in northern Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains famous for its picturesque historic centre and as a holiday resort. It is the biggest town of the Spiš region and the tenth largest city in Slovakia with a population of approximately 55,000.The Poprad-Tatry Airport is...
, Tatra Gallery, NitraNitraNitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. With a population of about 83,572, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia and the country's earliest political and cultural center...
, Nitra Gallery, 2001 - New End of Painting, TrnavaTrnavaTrnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
, Jan Koniarek Gallery, 2002 - Contemporary Slovak Painting 2000-2005, City Gallery of Prague, PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic, 2005 - Intertext / From conceptual to postconceptual text, Jan Koniarek Gallery, TrnavaTrnavaTrnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
, Slovakia, 2009 - Formate der Transformation 89-09, MUSA - Museum auf Abruf, ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria, 2010 - After Hours : Phase 2 / Artists from Slovakia, Santa AnaSanta Ana-People:*Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary*Santa Anna , Native American tribal leader*Antonio López de Santa Anna , Mexican general and President-United States:*Santa Ana, California...
, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, USA, 2010
Works
- Mechanical Paradise (1988/1990)
- HROBONJOUR (1992) http://www.nevolne.sk/images/stories/clanky/b_balaz3.jpg
- Artwart (1997) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_artwart.html
- Skarabeus (1997) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_scarabeus_1.html http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_scarabeus_2.html
- Memory 2 / Unpowdered painting (1998)
- Mandala 4 / Black (1997/2000) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_mandala_4.html
- Geld macht frei (2001) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_geld.html
- Mandala 5 (2001) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_mandala_5.html
- Poppy Seed Field (2001/02)- Monochrome paintingMonochrome paintingMonochromatic painting has been an important component of avant-garde visual art throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. Painters have created the exploration of one color, the examination of values changing across a surface, the expressivity of texture and nuance, expressing a wide...
http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_mak.html - Mandala 15 (2003) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_mandala_15.html
- GODSAVEUS (2003) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_godsaveus.html
- The Art of kill (2004) http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/b_balaz_pict_kill.html
- WETRUSTIN (2004–07)
- Treptomachia. EN – A / How to domesticate the English language (2005/06)
- Treptomachia. DE – B / How to domesticate the German language (2006)
- WARTERAUM (2007)
- WARTEZEIT (2007)
- SUCHARATOLEST (2008)
- SLOVENSKY (2006/09)
- BESTEHLEN (2007/09)http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/archive-of-expositions/2009/intertext/
- BESTOCKEN (2007/09)
Books, catalogues
- VALOCH, J. – VARTECKÁ, A. 2003. Blažej Baláž. Trnava : Trnava University, East of Eden, 132 p. (In English and Slovak) ISBN 80-89074-22-7
- BESKID, V. – GAJDOŠ, R. 2007. Blažej Baláž : Texts 1988 /2007. Trnava : East of Eden, Trnava University, 48 p. (In English and Slovak) ISBN 80-8082-129-6
- BALÁŽ, B. 2009. The Texts of the Texts. Trnava : Trnava University, 30 p. ISBN 978-80-8082-314-6
Further reading
- ž.u.m. (= URRA MUENA, Ž.).1992. Blažej Baláž. In Saur Allgemeines Künstler – Lexikon, band 6. Mϋnchen, Leipzig : K.G.Saur. (D)
- BARTOŠOVÁ, Z. 1995. Blažej Baláž. In 12th International Biennial of Small Sculpture. Murska Sobota : Galerija Murska Sobota, p. 158-159 (SL)
- GERŽOVÁ, J. 1999. Junk art. In Dictionary of World and Slovak Fine Art in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Bratislava : Kruh súčasného umenia Profil, p. 285
- VRBANOVÁ, A. 2000. New Form in Graphic Art. In RUSINOVÁ, Z. et al. 2000. Art of the 20th century. Bratislava : Slovak National Gallery, p. 114-116
- VALOCH, J. 2001. The Connotation of Powdered Painting. In Ateliér, vol.14, no.6, 22.3.2001, p. 9, Prague (CZ)
- BESKID, V. 2003. Geld macht Kunst. Macht Kunst Geld? In Profil, vol. X, no.2/2003, p. 128-131
- ADAM, R. – ROBERTSON, C. 2007. Intaglio. London : Thames & Hudson, p. 29 (UK)
- BÖHMEROVÁ, Z. – JANČÁR, I. 2007. Slovak Graphics of the 20th Century. Bratislava : City Gallery, 2007, p. 195, 285, 304, 312
- BARTOŠOVÁ, Z. 2007. 20th Century. In Art in Slovakia / Summary History of Pictures. Bratislava. Bratislava : Slovart, p. 224
- GAJDOŠ, R. 2008. The projection of linguistic thinking to contemporary fine arts.. In SCHNEIDER, J. – KRAUSOVA, L. 2008 (eds). Intermediality: Word – image – sound. Olomouc : University of J. E. Palacký, 334 p. [p. 223-229] (CZ)
- VALOCH, J. 2009. Venice In-Between Geometry and Concept. Ateliér, vol.22, no.18, p. 4, 10.9.2009 (CZ)
- GERŽOVÁ, B. 2009. From plaster to chewing gum – Author's techniques, Nitra : Nitra Gallery, p. 5, 9, 44, 45
- BESKID, V. 2009. From a Political Space toward a Public One. In KOWOLOWSKI, F. (ed.) 2009. Formats of Transformation 89 – 09 / Seven views on the new Czech and Slovak identity. Brno : House of Art, p. 14 – 17, 200 (CZ)
- KNÍŽÁK, M. – VLČEK, T. (eds.). 2009. 909 / Art from the Turn of the Millennium in the National Gallery in Prague 1990 - 2009. Prague - National Gallery, p. 362 (CZ)
- GAJDOŠ, R. 2010. Conceptual Text / Genesis and Metamorphosis. Trnava : Typi Univesitatis Tyrnaviensis and Veda, p. 11, 12, 76, 87, 89, 99, 101, 104, 105, 128 (SK)
External links
- http://www.bbalaz.sk/
- http://www.artfacts.net/en/artist/blazej-balaz-165810/profile.html
- http://www.kunstaspekte.de/index.php?k=8735&action=webpages
- http://www.artgallery.sk/pouzivatel.php?ArtGallery_Session=f82e20a9e6d69f7b28890e45fd3bd3f1&getPouzivatel=764
- http://www.osobnosti.sk/index.php?os=zivotopis&ID=59280&mainkat=4
- http://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blažej_Baláž
- http://pdfweb.truni.sk/fak/katedry/kpvu/bbalaz/index.html
- http://www.gjk.sk/en/exhibition/archive-of-expositions/2009/intertext/
- http://www.pgu.sk/archive/2007/balaz.htm