Josef Žáček
Encyclopedia
Josef Žáček is a Czech painter
. He graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
in 1983.
Josef Žáček's own visual language was based on geometric signs and later figural symbols through which he came to address universal issues of cultural identity and memory as well as wholly concrete phenomena of the contemporary world.
In his work is frequently used principle of a central motif. The same motif appears several times alongside itself, either in paintings arranged next to each other or within the composition of a single picture.
His monumental canvases are usually monochrome compositions.
In 1989 he had first major exhibition at the Youth Gallery in Prague, which featured canvases in abstraction shapes on the theme of The Gospel of St Matthew. In 1994 Žáček exhibited a series of paintings at the Behémot Gallery in Prague that were inspired by events that had occurred in 1993 in Bad Kleinen
. The series of evocative portraits of wanted members of the Red Army Faction
entitled Searching in Lost Space is not a celebration of violent solutions, rather it highlights how society has evolved in an unnatural direction. The source of the Žáček's portrets was a poster of wanted R. A. F. activists announcing the reward for their capture.
In 1995 at Prague City Gallery he presented the large composition Madonna of Prosperity, an allegory of Albrecht Dürer
’s ‘Feast of the Rose-garlands’
, portraying in sign-form a striking phenomenon of the new age: consumerist madness.
Another of Josef Žáček’s most striking series of paintings are Universe (1998), Eyes of the City (2002), The Genius Loci (2004) , Altar of Dreams (2005), Dream of the Apocalypse (2007), The Landscape (2010).
In 2011 Žacek presents at the Dox Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague, a new series of paintings, entitled No Comment, a group portraits of six young men who, in Russia's Far East
, declared a guerrilla war in 2010 against corruption and police brutality. The group, which called itself the "Primorsky Partisans", became notorious across Russia. The artist was inspired by the video posted on internet by the group to explain the motives behind their actions.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
The Academy of Fine Arts, Prague was founded in 1799 and is the Czech Republic's oldest art college. The school offers twelve Master's degree programs and one Doctoral program.-History:...
in 1983.
Josef Žáček's own visual language was based on geometric signs and later figural symbols through which he came to address universal issues of cultural identity and memory as well as wholly concrete phenomena of the contemporary world.
In his work is frequently used principle of a central motif. The same motif appears several times alongside itself, either in paintings arranged next to each other or within the composition of a single picture.
His monumental canvases are usually monochrome compositions.
In 1989 he had first major exhibition at the Youth Gallery in Prague, which featured canvases in abstraction shapes on the theme of The Gospel of St Matthew. In 1994 Žáček exhibited a series of paintings at the Behémot Gallery in Prague that were inspired by events that had occurred in 1993 in Bad Kleinen
Bad Kleinen
Bad Kleinen is a municipality in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located on the north bank of the Schweriner See.-Geography:...
. The series of evocative portraits of wanted members of the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
entitled Searching in Lost Space is not a celebration of violent solutions, rather it highlights how society has evolved in an unnatural direction. The source of the Žáček's portrets was a poster of wanted R. A. F. activists announcing the reward for their capture.
In 1995 at Prague City Gallery he presented the large composition Madonna of Prosperity, an allegory of Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
’s ‘Feast of the Rose-garlands’
Feast of the Rosary
The Feast of the Rosary is a 1506 oil painting by Albrecht Dürer, now in the National Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic.-History:...
, portraying in sign-form a striking phenomenon of the new age: consumerist madness.
Another of Josef Žáček’s most striking series of paintings are Universe (1998), Eyes of the City (2002), The Genius Loci (2004) , Altar of Dreams (2005), Dream of the Apocalypse (2007), The Landscape (2010).
In 2011 Žacek presents at the Dox Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague, a new series of paintings, entitled No Comment, a group portraits of six young men who, in Russia's Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
, declared a guerrilla war in 2010 against corruption and police brutality. The group, which called itself the "Primorsky Partisans", became notorious across Russia. The artist was inspired by the video posted on internet by the group to explain the motives behind their actions.
External links
- Artist Josef Žáček ARTLIST- database of contemporary Czech art
- Portrait: painter Josef Žáček Česká televize, 16 May 2010
- Josef Žáček: Whispers DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, 2011
- Interview with Josef Žáček at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Radio Svoboda, 14 September 2011