Found In Translation: art Brut from Czech Republic

Page 1

FOUND IN TRANSLATION: ART BRUT FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC

FOUND IN TRANSLATION: ART BRUT FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC

2022 CAVIN-MORRIS
NEW YORK

Anonymous Railroad Worker

Anna Zemánková

Cecilie Markova

Anonymous Mediumistic Drawings

Eva Droppova

František Dymácek

František Jaroslav Pecka

F. Sedlak

Jaroslav Cevora Josef Kotzian

Karel Havlícek

Luboš Plný

Leos Wertheimer

Miloslava Ratzingerová

Miroslav Tichý

Ota Prouza

Vlasta Kodrikova

Zdenek Kosek Zbynek Semerák

The impact of the spirits and spiritualism on Czech Art Brut is immense, intertwined with orthodox religion, existential world political struggles and an intimacy with other non-physical parallel planes living tangential to ours. The story of this art is ancient in the Czech Republic. Yet, as scholar Barbara Safarova has said, it was only in the Summer of 1998 that the first and only exhibition of Art Brut took place at Galerie Hlavního Mesta, Prahy. Why were the Czech people so receptive to the mediumistic phenomenon of the spirit hand taking control not only of the maker’s body, but of their mind as well? The willingness to submit to a force from the other side extended throughout the creative process, from the initial impulse to create the final marks left on the paper. These mediumistic and spiritualist works provoked the aesthetics of the Surrealists, including André Breton who wrote “we should remember that the idea of surrealism is the total recovery of our psychic forces by means, quite simply, of delving deep into ourselves, lighting up all those areas that lie hidden deep and dimming others, a continuing journey through forbidden territory”.

The Spiritualists (using the specific word in its meaning of communication with ancestors) have always had a shifting ground in our field. It was welcomed into Art Brut canon, yes, but only by sacrificing ‘spiritualist’ and replacing that identity with Art Brut, which, at least at its inception focused on the art of the insane. This was notoriously the subject of debate between André Breton and Jean Dubuffet. Breton wanted the Spiritualists to be part of Surrealism without losing their identity as ‘’Spiritualists’. This entire area of art has been a semantic battleground from before the middle of the last century to the present. The confluence of world history, particularly World War II, the rise of Nazism and the subsequent campaign to rid Europe of degenerate art, and the continued powerful influence of the Catholic church demonizing spiritualist and mediumistic practices classifying them as blasphemous, drove most of the creators of these highly personal forms of expression underground until the Communists, who also condemned the practice, exited Prague in 1989.

Our exhibition includes both Art Brut and Spiritualistic works; a very small crosssection of this exciting and important Art Brut phenomenon, with approximately 60 works by seventeen creators ranging from well-known artists including Anna Zemánková and Miroslav Tichý, to artists who have a cult status, including Jaroslav Cevora, Karel Havlícek, Vlasta Kodriková, Zdenek Košek, Josef Kotzian, and Zbynek Semerák, to anonymous makers including the mysterious Le Cheminot, and another anonymous artist who drew channeled, transcendental flower forms during the darkest days of the Second World War. Many have never been shown in the United States before despite the current international interest in Art Brut and Mediumistic works.

AnnA Zemánková born 1908, OLOMOUC, CzecH REPUBLIC died 2011, PRAGUE, CzecH REPUBLIC

Untitled, 1970- 1980 Pastel, Graphite/ Paper 24.5 x 17.75 in (62.2 x 45.1 cm) AZe 450

6

Anna Zemánková Untitled, c. 1960's Pastel on paper 26 x 16 inches (66 x 40.6 cm) AZe 460

10

Anna Zemánková Untitled, 1970's Pastel, ink/paper 24.5 x 17.25 in (62.2 x 43.8 cm) AZe 463

12

Anna Zemánková Untitled, c. 1970's Satin collage, textile paint, pastel and ballpoint pen on paper 11.5 x 8.25 inches 29.2 x 21 cm AZe 306

16

Anna Zemánková Untitled, c. 1960s

Crayon, ink on paper 16.25 x 12 inches (41.3 x 30.5 cm) AZe 537

18
22 Anna Zemánková Untitled, c. 1970's Oil pastel, ink on paper 35 x 25 inches 88.9 x 63.5 cm AZe 673

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Late 1960s

Pastel, colored pencil on paper 13.5 x 10.5

34.3

inches
x 26.7 cm AZe 668

Anna Zemánková Untitled, 1970s

Acrylic, pastel and ballpoint pen, collage 34.65 x 24.41 inches 88 x 62 cm AZe 629

24

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1960s Pastel on paper

33 x 23.25 inches 83.8 x 59.1 cm AZe 634

28

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1960s Pastel on paper 34.5 x 24.4 inches 87.6 x 62 cm AZe 640

32

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1960's Tempera, China ink, pastel on paper

36
34.5 x 24.5 inches 87.6 x 62.2 cm AZe 647

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1960's Tempera, China ink, pastel on paper 34.5

x 24.5 inches 87.6 x 62.2 cm AZe 646

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1970s Pastel on paper 24.5 x 17 inches 62.2 x 43.2 cm AZe 641

38

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Mid 1960s Pastel, ballpoint pen on paper 24.5 x 34.75 inches 62.2 x 88.3 cm AZe

42
667

Anna Zemánková Untitled, c. 1970s Pastel on paper

24.5 x 34.5 inches 62.2 x 87.6 cm AZe 385

Anna Zemánková Untitled, Early 1960s Pastel on paper

34.5 x 24.5 inches 87.6 x 62.2 cm AZe 643

44

Untitled, 12-01-1926

Crayon on paper 8.66 x 12.6 inches 22 x 32 cm FSe 1

46
F. SedLak

František Jaroslav Pecka born 1878, Neveklov, CzecH REPUBLIC died 1960, prague, CzecH REPUBLIC

50 Untitled, 07/18/1928

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 34.5 x 22.5 inches 87.6 x 57.2 cm FJP 1

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, circa 1924-1937

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 34.5 x 22.75 inches 87.6 x 57.8 cm FJP 2

54

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, circa 1924-1937

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 34.5 x 22.5 inches 87.6 x 57.2 cm FJP 6

58

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, 5/1/1922

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 30.71 x 20.47 inches 78 x 52 cm FJP 27

60

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, 6/29/1920

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 18.5 x 13.39 inches 47 x 34 cm FJP 15

64

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, 6/3/1920

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 26.77 x 18.5 inches 68 x 47 cm FJP 26

66

František Jaroslav Pecka Untitled, 04/24/1927

Colored pencil, graphite on paper 34.5 x 23.5 inches 87.6 x 59.7 cm FJP 3

70

Untitled, 1932 Ink on paper

72
6 x 8 inches 15.2 x 20.3 cm ARCR 2 CHEMINOT

Cheminot Untitled, 1932 Ink on paper

74
6 x 9.25 inches 15.2 x 23.5 cm ARCR 1

Untitled

Cheminot
, 1932 Ink on paper 5.91 x 7.28 inches 15 x 18.5 cm ARCR 3

Republic

ANONYMOUS DRAWINGS

Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing CLXXXII, 1945

Colored pencil/paper

8.75 x 11.75 inches 22.2 x 29.8 cm Cze 3

76
Czech

Mediumistic Drawing LXXV

(22.2

78 Czech Republic Anonymous
, 1943 Graphite/paper 8.75 x 12 in
x 30.5 cm) Cze 14

Mediumistic Drawing LIII,

on paper

Czech Republic Anonymous
1943 Graphite
8.75 x 11.75 inches 22.2 x 29.8 cm Cze 20

Mediumistic Drawing

on

80 Czech Republic Anonymous
XIV, 1942 Graphite
paper 8.75 x 11.75 inches 22.2 x 29.8 cm Cze 15

Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing LVIII,

on paper

Czech
1943 Graphite
8.75 x 11.75 inches 22.2 x 29.8 cm Cze 17

Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing CXXVI, 1944

Colored pencil, graphite/paper 8.75 x 11.75 in (22.2 x 29.8 cm) Cze 6

82

Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing

Crayon on paper

12/31/1943

Czech
,
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 23

Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing 12/14/1945

Crayon on paper 8.66 x

inches 22

Cze 21

84 Czech
11.81
x 30 cm
Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 2/15/1944 Crayon on paper 11.81 x 8.66 inches 30 x 22 cm Cze 22

Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 9/13/1945 Crayon on paper

86 Czech
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 26

Republic

Mediumistic Drawing

Crayon on paper

Czech
Anonymous
, 7/18/1945
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 24

Mediumistic

Crayon on paper

88 Czech Republic Anonymous
Drawing, 8/10/1943
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 25

Crayon on

Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 9/6/1946
paper 8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 27

Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing

Crayon on paper

90 Czech
, 1/25/1946
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 28

Mediumistic

Crayon on

Czech Republic Anonymous
Drawing, 12/27/1944
paper 11.81 x 8.66 inches 30 x 22 cm Cze 30
92 Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 1/11/1944 Crayon on paper 11.81 x 8.66 inches 30 x 22 cm Cze 29
Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 5/29/1945 Crayon on paper 11.81 x 8.66 inches 30 x 22 cm Cze 31

Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 10/26/1943

Crayon on paper

94
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 32

on

Czech Republic Anonymous Mediumistic Drawing, 5/15/1945 Crayon
paper 8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 34
96

Republic

Mediumistic Drawing

Crayon on paper

Czech
Anonymous
, 11/9/1943
8.66 x 11.81 inches 22 x 30 cm Cze 33

Miloslava Ratzingerová born 1904, czech republic died 1990, czech republic

Untitled, 1935-1950 Graphite on paper 17.32 x 12.5 inches 44 x 31.8 cm MRa 5

98

100

Miloslava Ratzingerová Untitled, 1935-1950 Graphite on paper 17.3 x 12.5 inches 43.9 x 31.8 cm MRa 3

Vlasta Kodrikova born 1929, uhersky ostroh, czech republic died 2011, uhersky ostroh, czech republic

Untitled, 1952

Colored pencil on paper 12.75 x 9 inches 32.4 x 22.9 cm VK 1

102

Karel HavlíCek born 1907, Berlin, germanY died 1988, Kadan, Czech republic

Zoon, 1970

Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 16

104

Karel HavlíCek Praptdk, 1958

Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 20

106

Karel HavlíCek Zakuklený / Hooded, 1949 Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 22

108

Karel HavlíCek Lezec / Climber, 1958

Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 24

110

Karel HavlíCek Zazívaci ústrojí / Digestive System, 1958 Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 25

112

Karel HavlíCek Srostlé stromy / Fused Trees, 1949 Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.81 inches 42 x 30 cm KHav 26

114

Karel HavlíCek Untitled, 1971

Pencil on paper

16.54 x 11.77 inches 42 x 29.9 cm KHav 28

116

Miroslav Tichý born 1926, Kyjov, CzecH REPUBLIC died 2011, Kyjov, CzecH REPUBLIC

Untitled, 1960s-1980s

Gelatin silver print 12.17 x 7.05 inches 30.9 x 17.9 cm MTi 50

118

Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s

silver

120 Miroslav
Gelatin
print 7 x 5 inches 17.8 x 12.7 cm MTi 16

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Gelatin silver print 6 x 4.2 inches 15.2 x 10.7 cm MTi 48

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Gelatin silver print

MTi 19

122
7.6 x 4.2 inches 19.3 x 10.7 cm

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s

silver print

MTi

Gelatin
7 x 4.5 inches 17.8 x 11.4 cm
21

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s

silver print

124
Gelatin
7.3 x 4.2 inches 18.5 x 10.7 cm MTi 25

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s

silver print

MTi 24

Gelatin
7 x 5 inches 17.8 x 12.7 cm

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Gelatin silver print 4.5 x 4.5 inches 11.4 x 11.4 cm MTi 42

126

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Gelatin silver print

MTi

7.3 x 5.8 inches 18.5 x 14.7 cm
145

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Gelatin silver print 2.9 x 4.7 inches 7.4 x 11.9 cm MTi 18

128

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s

silver print

Gelatin
6.69 x 5.12 inches 17 x 13 cm MTi 34

Tichý Untitled

1960s-1980s

130 Miroslav
,
Gelatin silver print 9.1 x 5.9 inches 23.1 x 15 cm MTi 243

Miroslav Tichý Untitled, 1960s-1980s Colored pencil on paper

MTi

8.8 x 5.8 inches 22.4 x 14.7 cm
98

František DymáCek born 1929 died 2003

František DymáCek Untitled, 1983 Ink on paper 12 x 14.25 inches 30.5 x 36.2 cm FDy 20

132

František DymáCek Untitled, 1983

on paper

134
Ink
12 x 14 inches 30.5 x 35.6 cm FDy 21

František DymáCek Untitled, 1983

on paper

Ink
12 x 14 inches 30.5 x 35.6 cm FDy 22

František

136
DymáCek Untitled, 1983 Ink on paper 11.75 x 8.25 inches 29.8 x 21 cm FDy 9

František DymáCek Whore

, 1994 Ink on paper 11.75 x 8.25 inches 29.8 x 21 cm FDy 15

František Dymácek Veronika Forejtová actress, 1996

on paper

138
Ink
8.5 x 11.5 inches 21.6 x 29.2 cm FDy 4
František Dymácek Untitled, 1997 Ink on paper 11.75 x 8.25 inches 29.8 x 21 cm FDy 14

František Dymácek Untitled, 1991

on paper

140
Ink
8.25 x 11.75 inches 21 x 29.8 cm FDy 6

František

Dymácek To Lucie Bílá, Long Live Petrín, 1993 Ink on paper 11.75 x 8.25 inches 29.8 x 21 cm FDy 7

Cecilie Markova born 1911 Kyjov, Czech Republic died 1998 Kyjov, Czech Republic

Cecilie Markova Untitled, 1989 Pastel on paper 16.5 x 12 inches 41.9 x 30.5 cm CMa 4

142

Cecilie Markova Untitled, 1988 Pastel on paper

144
9 x 6 inches 22.9 x 15.2 cm CMa 1

Cecilie Markova Untitled, 1990 Pastel on paper

12 x 8.5 inches 30.5 x 21.6 cm CMa 3

Jaroslav cevora

z cyklu Kosmické radovánky - chaos + rád = vesmír / Cosmis pleasures - chaos + systém = cosmos, 2007 Colored print and China ink on paper 11.81 x 8.27 inches 30 x 21 cm JCev 2

146

Jaroslav cevora Untitled, 2011 Crayon on paper

148
13.39 x 9.45 inches 34 x 24 cm JCev 10
Jaroslav cevora Untitled, 2011 Crayon on paper 13.39 x 9.45 inches 34 x 24 cm JCev 12
150 Jaroslav cevora Untitled, 2020 Ink, crayon on paper 11.5 x 8.25 inches 29.2 x 21 cm JCev 15

Jaroslav cevora Untitled

, 2020 Ink, crayon on paper 11.5 x 8.25 inches 29.2 x 21 cm JCev 13

Jaroslav cevora

Neukojená vesmírná liška zausující se do chvostu komety /Space greedy fox bites into the tail of a comet, 2007 China ink on paper 11.81 x 8.27 inches 30 x 21 cm JCev 1

152

Jaroslav cevora Slunovrat / Solstice, 2007 China ink on paper 11.81 x 8.27 inches 30 x 21 cm JCev 3

Jaroslav cevora

Nebeský Vincent plující oblohou a s ním poselství na planetu Zem / Havenly Vincent sails sky and brings a message on planet earth, 2007 China ink on paper 11.81 x 8.27 inches 30 x 21 cm JCev 4

154

Jaroslav cevora kosmické babí léto / cosmic indian summer, 2007 China ink on paper 11.81 x 8.27 inches 30 x 21 cm JCev 5

Jaroslav cevora Biologicko-pudní klony / biological-soil clone, 2005-2006 China ink on paper 8.27 x 11.81 inches 21 x 30 cm JCev 6

156

Eva Droppova born 1936, bratislava, slovakia

Untitled, circa 2005 Crayon, ink on paper 11.42 x 16.54 inches 29 x 42 cm EDr 5

158

Eva Droppova Untitled, circa 2005

Crayon, ink, pencil on paper 16.54 x 5.91 inches 42 x 15 cm EDr 4

162

Eva Droppova Untitled, circa 2005

Crayon, ink, pencil on paper 17.72 x 6.69 inches 45 x 17 cm EDr 3

164

Ota Prouza born 1959, Brtníky, Czech Republic

168

Untitled, c. 2000-2015

Graphite, crayon, ink on paper 70 x 11.81 inches 250 x 30 cm OtP 1

Ota Prouza Untitled, c. 2000-2015 Graphite, crayon, ink on paper 97.64 x 11.81 inches 248 x 30 cm OtP 4

172

Ota Prouza Untitled, c. 2000-2015 Pencil, crayon, marker, pen on paper 116.14 x 16.14 inches 295 x 41 cm OtP 11

176

Ota Prouza Untitled, c. 2000-2015 Pencil, crayon, marker, pen on paper 100.39 x 23.62 inches 255 x 60 cm OtP 16

180

Ota Prouza Untitled, c. 2000-2015

Graphite, crayon, ink on paper 185.04 x 11.81 inches 470 x 30 cm OtP 7

184

Ota Prouza Untitled, c. 2000-2015 Graphite, crayon, ink on paper 113 x 8 inches 287 x 20.3 cm OtP 8

188

Zdenek Kosek born 1949, duchcov, czech republic died 2015, duchcoV, czech republic

Duben 1972, c. 1991 Ballpoint pen/ marker, paper 8.25 x 6 inches 21 x 15.2 cm ZKo 70

192
194

Zdenek Kosek Untitled, 1991 Ink, marker/paper 11.75 x 7.5 inches 29.8 x 19.1 cm ZKo 12

196

Zdenek Kosek Untitled, 1990-2000 Crayon, marker on paper

inches

ZKo

7.6 x 17.13
19.3 x 43.5 cm
103

Zdenek Kosek Untitled, 1991 Ink, marker/paper

inches

ZKo

198
7.75 x 5.75
19.7 x 14.6 cm
84

Zdenek Kosek Untitled, 1991 Ballpoint pen/marker, paper

7.75 x 5.75 inches 19.7 x 14.6 cm ZKo 95
200 Zdenek Kosek Okresni, 1981-2000 Marker/printed envelope 6.5 x 4.5 inches 16.5 x 11.4 cm ZKo 32

Zdenek Kosek Untitled, 1990-2000 Crayon, marker on paper

7.6 x 5.71 inches 19.3 x 14.5 cm ZKo 102

Zbynek Semerák born 1951, sumperk, czech republic died 2003, sumperk, czech republic

Untitled, circa 1992-1995 Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.5 inches 42 x 29.9 cm ZSe 28

202

Zbynek Semerák Untitled, circa 1992-1995 Pencil on paper 16.54 x 11.5 inches 42 x 29.9 cm ZSe 29

206

Luboš Plný born 1961, Czechoslovakia

Untitled, 2001 Ink, collage on paper 35.67 x 26 inches 90.6 x 66 cm LuP 71

210

Leos Wertheimer

born 1956, prerov, czech republic

Opus 303, Amerika Lokomotiva, n.d. Graphite, colored pencil/paper 22.5 x 73 inches 57.2 x 185.4 cm LWer 2

Josef Kotzian born 1889, CZECh republic died 1960, CZECh republic

Untitled, n.d. Colored pencil on paper 9.45 x 12.8 inches 24 x 32.5 cm JfK 1

216

Photography • Jurate Veceraite

• Randall Morris

Copyright © 2022 Cavin-Morris Gallery
Text
Cavin-Morris Gallery • 529 W 20th Street • New York, NY 10001 212.226.2768 • www.cavinmorris.com • info@cavinmorris.com

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.