Josef Žáček
Josef Žáček (born 1951 in Prague) 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.[1]
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[2] 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)[3], Altar of Dreams (2005), Dream of the Apocalypse (2007), The Landscape (2010).[4]
In 2011 Žacek presents at the Dox Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague, a new series of paintings, entitled No Comment[5] 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.
References
- ^ R. Drury: Josef Žáček, 2010, ISBN 978-80-254-7515-7
- ^ Series of paintings Searching in Lost Space, Josef Žáček's portraits of the Red Army Faction members , 1993
- ^ Dabrowská, Olga [1] Literární noviny, 30 June 2004 Template:Cs icon
- ^ [2] J. Machalický, Galerie NoD, Praha, 2010 Template:Cs icon
- ^ No Comment from Primorsky Partisans 2010 series of paintings
Bibliography
- Klimešová, Marie (2005), Czech studios- 71 contemporary artists, Prague: Art CZ, ISBN 978-80-239-5528-6
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Gasparoli, Roberto (1993), Josef Žáček, Fondazione Bick di S. Abbondio: Artest '93
- Kosik, Antonín (2002), Josef Žáček 90.léta, Praha: Galerie Behémot
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Pánková, Marcela (1995), Až budou lumíci létat.../Once lemmings fly up..., Galerie hlavního města Prahy, ISBN 80-7010-041-9
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jirous, Ivan M. (2010), Josef Žáček, Brno: Galerie Aspekt, ISBN 978-80-254-7515-7
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
- Artist Josef Žáček ARTLIST- database of contemporary Czech art
- Portrait: painter Josef Žáček Česká televise, 16 May 2010 Template:Cs icon
- 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 2011Template:Ru icon