ARTIST STATEMENT

1. Sum up the main character of your work, your long-term interests, and themes.

. circulation, cycles, research over media and its limitations, interest in objects and imprints

. new technologies and its confrontation with the traditional media (scuplture and graphic)

. action-reaction between each other / action-reaction to the environment and perception

. transformation through various media, fluidity, volatility, ephemerality

2. Describe the context of your work – what are your inspirational sources and theoretical starting points, which artists and tendencies do you consider as referential to your work.

A:              We‘ve never talked about this.

Z:              It’s mostly influenced by the head of the studio in which you study. I would definitely mention Ladislav Jezbera – this was my first introduction to conceptual art when I was in high school. Jiří Sobotka as well, that’s for sure. Also, the theme of motion in Robert Vlasák’s art – the encounter with robotics, machines and of course the already mentioned theme of motion. It’s more of a technical approach. Then also Jan Ambrůz and Pavel Korbička.

A:              I’m stoked you were able to name a few artists right away that you feel influenced you. I wouldn’t be able to do this. But you’re right – as the time passes, you realize how much the studio you studied at influenced you. One can judge or feel that better when they have gone through the experience of studying at different studios. Personally, I think I can probably perceive that better now that I teach where I previously studied. I can perceive the influence more. Though, I don’t think this academic environment is the only thing that influences you. There’s always something personal in it, something that pisses you off.

Z:             It’s a combination of what you study and what pisses you off. What was it that was pissing you off? In my case, it was the cycles – everything would be repeating over and again, but not leading anywhere… When you observe things around you, you will realize there’s always something that keeps repeating itself – be that in nature or when it comes to humans.

A:             I realized only recently what connects us is the fascination of being a part of something we call “the reality“. We don’t know how this originated, and we know even less about why this happened. This is what led me to sign us up for the Jindřich Chalupecký Award as a duo. The connection suddenly came clear to me. I think we collaborate very intuitively, but the inner connection is just what Zuzana mentioned – that feeling of endless looping, everything repeating itself over and again. And us? We’re only a small part of something way bigger, something whole. It’s like a machine with its own rules, and us trying to understand those rules is a way for us how to cope with it. 

3. Try to characterize what makes your work specific, wherein lies its force, what makes it different from the work of artists with similar approaches and themes.

A:             I don’t think our goal is to be compared with others or trying to differ from others. I think attempting to reach originality is passé these days.

Z:             Regarding the originality and effort to be different… If you search for it, you will always find someone who creates similar things, even on the other side of the world. It would only be original to let everything disappear, but someone has done that already as well, only in a different context (starting with Willem de Kooning, and followed by the self-destructive sculptures and disappearing sculptures – and I’m not talking about a theft here).   

Z:             A different approach to the medium, for sure. A reversed principle, an attempt to work with the medium in a different, outstanding way. I think even in graphic arts one uses those principles in such a way so that the “message“ is relativized.

A:             Agreed. This is probably the point where we met. That “gazing into the black box“, as described by Vilém Flusser, won’t happen without the instruments of expression not becoming the subject of criticism or a revitalization of the message. We often thematize the different ways of delivering the message (or using the media) itself, we use multiplication, or explore the boundaries of the materials used. Alternatively, we use artefact manufacturing devices, such as 3D printers. This way, we’re getting closer to the common issues, since these devices have been forming our reality nowadays. I think that’s the powerful thing about this – that we’re constantly exploring and reassessing the reality, and what this reality is formed of. This naturally also includes the instruments which are supposed to shape this reality.  

4. What is your work process like? Do you deal with preparation and research? How do you search for your themes? How do you choose the media you work in?

A:             That’s an interesting question.

Z:              How did this come to life? The idea for our project at Kukačka (Cuckoo) came to life very naturally – Andrea said „how about we create some kind of text outside of the gallery environment, in the public spaces?“. And I followed „let’s let it dissolve then!“.

A:             I agreed on that idea.

Z:             Seriously. We always discuss the ideas and the subject, it’s not like the art statements would be created first. The art piece always comes first.

 

A:             That’s the point where our thoughts meet. Zuzana described Kukačka (Cuckoo) so well, and I think things can basically be created even just following intuition, just as it happened in this case. Each of us two has a different way of perceiving things and these two different ways of perceiving things naturally merge at some point. There was no constructing behind it. We simply just put together the idea of a fluid and slightly cliché message, placed into a particular environmental context.

Z:             Thinking about it, I think the major meeting point was combining graphic arts with sculpture, two different media. 2-D and 3-D. Andrea actually doesn’t like three-dimensional things. That’s the interesting thing about it, the clash of the two different media. Suddenly, there are structural objects and three-dimensional graphic arts.

A:             That’s true, I’m usually frightened by three-dimensional things, except the objects Zuzana created. Probably because these are usually not permanent.

5. What is your vision for the future? How do you want to develop your work and continue your previous projects/realizations? What is your long-term goal/dream?

A:             The hardest question at the end…  

Z:             To win the Jindřich Chalupecký Award! Or to win an exhibition in the House of Arts…

A:             Nah, don’t put that down there, they will think we’re full of ourselves!

A:             I’m actually grateful for these questions and the discussion we’re having here thanks to that, instead of having to put together an artist statement. This is a whole different angle from which we can perceive our works now, or at least I think we usually don’t perceive our work this way. Well, give me some ideas!

Z:             We wanted to create those accumulations, but that didn’t happen so far… well, not yet.

A:             What accumulations?

Z:             The idea was that we would put together particular places and site-specific sounds. Sound specific? Or some objects, that would be becoming warmer as more people come closer to these objects…

A:             Ah! It’s terrifying how this quarantine washes out your brain! My last (living) exhibition was held at Nonstrop gallery, where I used site-specific sounds. Based on that, we came up with the idea to create the collaborative project Zuzana mentioned.

Z:              Yeah, that was it!

A:             But then it suddenly started having a different meaning, once there would be limits on how many people could be on the exhibition openings. And then the openings were eventually banned all together… I don’t think I’m able to personally overcome these new contexts yet, as they are directly affecting our ideas! Since this project’s idea was based on how many people will be standing by the object or how far away from the object they would be, these days it’s obviously impossible to do such a project. And if we did, it would be thought it has only one idea or message in it – „keep away from each other!“. But who knows, maybe there would be someone out there who would think it’s about something more, such as global warming or so…

Z:             Nowadays, these accumulations are basically prohibited. I was also thinking about the graphic what I made. It was print of never realized object. These were some sculpture projects, and it‘s interesting as well, as this is a totally different situation – for our last exhibition, we created prints using objects and now, the graphics would represent what was supposed to be three-dimensional. This appears to me as a good parallel and an interesting dialogue between media.

Z:             Today, you’re good at making all these these formulations (she’s transcribing the dialogue as we talk).

A:             I’m excited. Too bad this interview is coming to an end…

Z:             Did we answer everything? Uhm, probably yeah.

A:             More importantly, did we answer everything between us two?

BIOGRAPHY

MgA. Andrea Uváčiková, Ph.D.
28. 10. 1990, Ilava, Slovakia
grafika.andrea@gmail.com


MgA. Zuzana Bartošová
24. 2. 1992, Brno, Czech Republic
zuzana.bartosova@seznam.cz


MgA. Andrea Uváčiková, Ph.D.

Education 
2015 – 2019  Masaryk University Brno, Faculty of Education, Department of Art Education, Art Education (Ph.D.)
2010 – 2015  University of Ostrava, Faculty of Arts, Department of Graphic and Drawing, Graphic Art (MgA)
2006 – 2010 Secondary School of Art Trenčín, Graphic Design

Internships
2017 University of Silesia Katowice, Faculty of Arts, Department of Graphic, Interdisciplinary Printmaking Studio (Ph.D.)
2014 – 2015 Academy of Fine Art in Gdańsk
Faculty of Graphic: Intaglio Printing Studio, Serigraphy Studio
Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia: Transdisciplinary Activities Studio

Work
2020 Assistant Professor, Department of Graphic and Drawing, University of Ostrava, Faculty of Arts
2018 – 2020 Art teacher, Secondary School of Art in Jihlava-Helenín
2015 – 2018 Assistant, Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education
Masaryk University Brno
2015 Art Teacher, Secondary School of Art Trenčín

Solo Exhibitions

• Disturbing borders - a Laboratory of Apperception / Screen Saver Gallery
• Txt 5.0, Kukačka Festival / Z. Bartošová, A. Uváčiková / Ostrava
• Shapeshift / Z. Bartošová, A. Uváčiková / Off Format Gallery / Brno
• Reality Testing /A. Ševčík, A. Uváčiková / Pragovka Gallery / Praha
• 66 Unknown Artist Images / V. Nekvapil, A. Uváčiková /sound performance / Ponavafest / Brno
• Character Denotation / Atlantik Club / Ostrava
• HORIZONT / na Stopce / Brno
• Synesthesia / sound-visual performance, A. Uváčiková, V. Nekvapil / Miloš Alexander Bazovský Gallery / Trenčín
• andreaXgabriela / A. Uváčiková, G. Dorazilová / DUHA Gallery Prostějov
• Abstraction as a Profane Liturgical Object / A. Uváčiková, M. Hreha / Off Format Gallery / Brno
• Calibration, video / PAF – Olomouc / Iné vízie
• Digial Matter / Podlaha Gallery / University Of Ostrava, Faculty of Fine Arts
• Regression to the Lower Development Stage / J. Kratochvíla, A.Uváčiková / Monomach Gallery / Brno
• Bored with Andrea / Letovice
• Middle Point / Cultural City Centre / Dubnica nad Váhom
• Cracked Time – performance A. Hálová, A. Uváčiková / Brno Česká Street
• Hommage a Flusser / M.A. Bazovský Gallery / Trenčín
• Kregi Sztuki Festival – Duets / Z. Janáček, A. Uváčiková / Katowice

Group Exhibitions

• Trio / Aula Gallery / Academy Of Fine Arts / Gdańsk
  
• Together: Z.Janáček, A. Uváčiková, M. Macík / galerie Hollar / Prague
• Action Graphic / FX Gallery, Academy of Fine Arts / Banská Bystrica
• Horizons / M.A. Bazovský Gallery / Trenčín
• Screening / GASK / Kutná Hora
• Morphing Screen / Multimedia Group / Krakow
• Graphic of the Year 2018 / Clam Gallas Pallace / Prague
• Mikolow impressions exhibition/ Bolestraszyce
• Dual / Trakt Net Art Gallery / Trenčín
• Young Meeting / Gallery of Fine Arts / Hodonín 
• Print or play! / Duha Gallery / Prostějov
• Graphic of the Year 2017 / Clam Gallas Pallace / Prague
• Trans / Multimedia Group / Krakow
• Situation of Screenprinting / Sokolská Gallery / Ostrava
• Art for Fara / Cultural Centre Kafara / Brno
• Grupa MULTIMEDIA exhibition / Krakow
• Mikolow impressions / Plain Air / Mikolow, Katowice
• Park Camp Trebišov / Site Specific Installations in Public Space / Trebišov
• 4-th Serigraphy Art Workshop / FESPA / Trenčín
• Graphic of the Year 2015 / Hollar Gallery / Prague
• Artists from Považie / Cultural City Centre / Dubnica nad Váhom
• Art Dialogue / Z. Janáček, A. Uváčiková, V. Bednárová / Galerie Laznia Radom
• International Serigraphy Symposium ISSO / Faculty of Fine Arts / Ostrava
• S-medium – Central Europe Serigraphy Exhibition / Medium Gallery / Academy of Fine Arts / Bratislava
• Crisis / Faculty of Fine Arts University of Ostrava / Ostrava
• S-Serigraphy / Gallery of University of Fine Arts / Cieszyn
• GeoMetry / Cultural centre / Opava
• Amen – Diploma Works Exhibition / Ostrava
• Digital Stained Glasses at Cathedral of the Divine Savior / Ostrava
• Drama of Freedom / Symposium and Exhibition / Krakow, Częstochowa, Łodz, Kielce, Toruń, Cieszyn, Uherské Hradiště
• 100 Rods / Installation / Merina Hall Symposium / Trenčín
• Young Art Show / Piešťany House of Art / Piešťany
• Hong Kong Graphic Art Fiesta / Hongkong
• Intaglio studio ASP Gdańsk / Gdańsk, Rumia

MgA. Zuzana Bartošová

Education

2015 – 2017
Faculty of Fine Arts BUT, Brno, Czech republic
Studio Sculpture 2
Head of the studio prof. academic sculptor Jan Ambrůz,
assistant doc. Mgr. Pavel Korbička
Master degree

2013 – 2015
Faculty of Fine Arts BUT, Brno, Czech republic
Studio Sculpture 2
Head of the studio prof. academic sculptor Jan Ambrůz,
assistant doc. Mgr. Pavel Korbička
Bachelor degree

2014
Estonian Academy of Arts
Erasmus+, exchang e Estonia, Tallinn, outumn semester
2014, Instalation and Sculpture department

2011 – 2013
Faculty of Art and Design, Ústí nad Labem, Czech republic, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně
Studio Natural Materials
Head of the studio prof. academic painter Jaroslav Prášil,
assistant MgA Robert Vlasák

2007 – 2011
High school of Art and Design, Brno
Promotional art and exhibition design department
Head of the department: academic sculptor Jiří Sobotka, assistant
MgA. Ladislav Jezbera
 
Exhibitions, experiences and competitions

• Participation in the exhibition Graphics 2020 at Prague
• Separation, realization of sculptural group on the thirty years anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain, Mikulov, freedom trail, 2019
• Shapeshifters, OFF/FORMAT gallery, join exhibition,with Andrea Uváčiková, Brno, 2019
• TXT.5.0, realization in open space, Cuckoo 8 life is elsewhere, in cooperation with Andrea Uváčiková, Ostrava, 2019
• Sculptures for the garden X, realization in the Podzámecká garden, Kroměříž, 2019
• Solo exhibition, Industra gallery, Brno museum night, Brno, 2019
• Solo exhibition,Circulation, Industrial Gallery, Ostrava, 2019
• Festival Prototyp, Circulation, instalation at exterior, BVV Trade Fairs, Brno, 2018
• Residency in studio Bubec, Prague Řeporyje, 2018
• Entrée V4 edition, participation in exhibition Entrée V4 focuses on the fresh graduates of the arts′ universities of the Visegrad Group countries., 2018
• Sculptures for the garden IX, participation in exhibition in the Kroměříž garden,  2018
• Participation in Public creative art competition for the design of a statue,   dedicated to the architect Adolf Loos, in Brno, 2018
• 1. place in open competition to create Memorial to victims of the internment camp   for the German population called ,HANKE', Ostrava 2018
• Sculpture/Tree, realization for Pragovka Art District, Praha 9, 2017/2018
• Festival Prototyp, Old Town Hall, Brno, 2017
• 29 Diplomants FaVU ‚17, The House of the Lords of Kunštát, Brno,2017
• Circulation, exhibition in cafe Era, Brno, 2017
• Sculptures for the garden 8, Exhibition in the Kroměříž garden, 2017
• DŘEVO / WOOD 2017, international wood symposium, Zlín, 2017
• Arte!Fakt, workshop at Židenice, Brno, proposal for site specific sculpture, Židenice, Brno, 2017
• Cirkulace, exhibition of diploma work, Palace of Noble Ladies, Brno, 2017
• Circulation, exhibition of diploma work, OFF/FORMAT gallery, Brno, 2017
• Absurdium, proposal of bench for Ferdinand Vaňek, Chodba gallery, city office, Prague 6, 2017
• Graphics, solo exhibition of graphic works, Na stopce, Gorkého 50, Brno 2016
• Group exhibition of students from Faculty of Fine Arts BUT, SOLO offspace, Kornerova 9, Brno, 2016
• Sculptures for the garden 6 , Exhibition in the Kroměříž garden, 2016
• Group exhibition of students from Faculty of Fine Arts BUT, TIC gallery, Radnická 4, Brno, 2016
• Mosilana, gorup exhibition of Sculpture 2 studio in old factory building Mosilana, Brno, 2016
• Arte!Fakt, workshop at Židenice, Brno, proposal for site specific sculpture, 2016
• Fresh design, workshop and presentation of studio Sculpture 2, foundation Open Mind, Poland, Wroclaw, 2015
• Sculptures for the garden, Exhibition in the Kroměříž garden, 2015
• Erasmus+, exchange, outumn semester, 2014 Estonia, Tallinn, Estonian Academy of Arts, Instalation and Sculpture department
• Under one Umbrella, group exhibition of students from Installation and Sculpture department, Raja gallery, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn, 2014
• Demage assasment, group exhibition of students from Installation and Sculpture department, EKKM, Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn, 2014
• Sculptures for the garden, Exhibition in the Kroměříž garden, 8.8. 2014
• Ponava, Exhibition with Sculpture 2 department in the old textil factory, 12.6. 2014
• Part time job in private gallery in Brno, 2014 - 2015
• Participation in exhibition FUDFactory at Meet factory, Prague, 2013
• Workshop with stone at Hořice city 20012, 2013
• Second place in a competition to design a memorial to the victims of construction during World War II in Litvinov-Zaluzi, 2013
• Exhibition with studio Natural Materials at Jihlava, 2012
• Participation in the exhibition Graphics 2011 at Prague
• Facade design for family house, 2012
• Working in Skanzen (Museum) at Zubrnice city, helping to rebuild timbered houses, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Work experience

• Head of Design and visualization department, Secondary School of Art and Design Jihlava-Helenín 2020
• Teacher at the Secondary School of Art and Design Jihlava-Helenín, 2018
• Lecturer of Educational Programs of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, 2018
• Lecturer of Creative Courses for Adults, DDM Helceletova, Brno, 2017-2018
• Teaching practice at the Secondary School of Art and Design Brno, New Media, 2017
• Teacher of Art education, Gymnasium, P. Křižkovský with art profiling, Brno, 2016 – 2017
• Helping in art gallery Aspekt, Brno, 2016
• Working in Open air museum at Zubrnice city, helping to rebuild timbered houses, 2011, 2012, 2013