Michal Macku: Selected Works 2020 by Karin Weber Gallery

Michal Macků: SELECTED WORKS 2020

MICHAL MACKŮ: SELECTED WORKS 2020

cover image

MICHAL MACKŮ Glass Gellage XIV (detail) gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass, 30 x 38 x 4.5cm 12 editions, 2011

HK$72,000 US$9,300

MICHAL MACKŮ: 3D PHOTOGRAPHY

In most cases, the subject of my photographs is my body itself, or parts of it. My body is my unique physical possession. Fascinating in its contrasts of perfection, complicatedness and its fragility and transitory nature. My body is the vehicle for all of my perceptions. My body as a temple for my soul and a prison for my soul. The most complicated and most intimate object I can explore and discover. Object and subject of my work, both at the same time. I am not trying to create my version of autobiography. But yes, many of the works mean some concrete story for me, experience, meeting, relationship. The relationship with others is important: I can communicate with others fully and with no problems. But when I work I must be alone. The inspiration is coming to me when I am alone, concentrating on my work or meditating. The technique of my own invention called ‘Gellage’ consists of transfer the exposed and fixed photographic emulsion from its original base on paper. This is not a traditional photographic technique, but similar, for example, to a Polaroid transfer. I thought up also the name Gellage as a ligature of words ‘collage’ and ‘gelatin’. This transparent and plastic gelatin substance makes it possible to reshape and reform the original images, changing their relationships and endowing them with new meanings during the transfer. The finished work gives a compact image with a fine surface structure. The laborious technology, which often includes the use of more than one negative per image, makes it impossible to produce absolutely identical prints: each Gellage is an original work of art. The technique gives me almost unlimited possibility how to modify photographic images, how to combine more negatives into one final composition. And more – it is only classical chemical photography – no digital work.

With the technique of Gellage, I also made an animated film, in collaboration with Czech Television Brno: it was my idea to use the Gellage technique for animating the photographic image. I had also an idea for screenplay. So I tried. But there is too much animation everywhere around me last years. I am afraid I don’t have enough energy to try for it now. I don’t know, what will come in future. Let´s see. I have actively been taking part in solo and group exhibitions every year since 1990, and to many places, in Europe and the United States. It is great to meet people, which like my work. I am happy, when people react to my work, positively or negatively. It´s always better than indolence. Michal Macku

My works can be categorized into three things: Gellages, Carbon prints and Glass objects. I like the stylization of black and white, the play of light and dark. I like the graphic outlook which gives to our mind wide space for its own creativity. I don´t feel black and white just like an absence of color but like a very specific way of expression with deep tradition. I like, for example, black and white movies too.

ARTWORKS

Glass VI gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 37 x 30 x 4cm, 12 editions, 2016 HK$85,000 US$11,000

Glass XV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 40 x 49 x 4cm, 12 editions, 2008 HK$85,000 US$11,000

Glass Gellage IV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 32.5 x 39 x 4.5cm, 12 editions, 2011 HK$85,000 US$11,000

Glass Gellage XIV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 30 x 38 x 4.5cm, 12 editions, 2011 HK$72,000 US$9,300

Glass Gellage XL gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 50 x 34.5 x 10.5cm, 9 editions, 2015 HK$70,000 US$9,100

Glass Gellage XLI gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 50 x 31 x 10cm, 9 editions, 2012 HK$110,000 US$14,200

Glass Gellage XLV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 60 x 27 x 6cm, 9 editions, 2014 HK$110,000 US$14,200

Glass Gellage XXIV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 42 x 30 x 3.5cm, 12 editions, 2015 HK$100,000 US$12,900

Glass Gellage XX gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 36 x 29cm, 12 editions, 2015 HK$70,000 US$9,100

Glass Gellage XXXV gelatin, pure carbon pigment, optical clear glass 21.5Â xÂ 28cm, unqiue, 2014 HK$120,000 US$15,500

MICHAL MACKŮ

Born 1963, Bruntal, Czech Republic Lives and Works in Olomouc, Czech Republic Education 1989 Institute of Art Photography at Prague, Czech Republic 1985 Technological Faculty of the Polytechnic Institute in Brno, Czech Republic Solo Exhibitions (Selected) 2020 ‘Michal Macku – Glass Sacred Geometries‘, Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2016 ‘Skleněné objekty’, Galerie Zet, Velká Bystřice, Czech Republic 2014 Michal Macků - Gelages, verres, carbones, Czech Centre in Paris and Galerie David Guiraud, Paris, France 2013 ‘Michal Macků - 3D photography’, Paci contemprary, Brescia, Italy ‘Michal Macků, Antonin Tesar’, Galerie Mona Lisa, Olomouc, Czech Republic 2012 Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2011 ‘Michal Macků – Glass Photo’, Karin Weber Gallery, Hong Kong 2009 ‘Glass Photo’, PaciArte contemporary, Brescia, Italy ‘Gellages’, Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Galerie, Museum Art St.Urban. St. Urban, Switzerland 2008 ‘Sklenene Gelaze’, Galerie V Kapli, Bruntal, Czech Republic Galerie David Guiraud, Paris, France 2007 Bielske centrum kultury, Foto Art Festival, Bielsko-Biala, Poland ‘Over The Photo’, Galleria PaciArte contemporanea, Brescia, Italy ‘Bilder vom Menschen’, In focus Galerie, Köln, Germany Galery Na Soljanke, Moscow, Russia Galerie Caesar, Olomouc, Czech Republic 2006 ‘Ottoman Mint complex’, IFSAK, Istanbul, Turkey Photo Event, Turnhout, Belgium Galerie Art Affair, Regensburg, Germany 2005 Czech Centre, Munich, Germany Státní zámek Třeboň, Czech Republic Městské divadlo Zlín, Czech Republic Galerie Palais Breuner, Vienna, Austria Gallery “pf”, Poznaň, Poland ‘Vize, čin, sen, smrt’, Galerie Brno, Brno, Czech Republic 23

2004 J&T Bank, Prague, Czech Republic In focus Galerie am Dom, Köln, Germany John Stevenson Gallery, New York, USA Aberystwyth Art College, Aberystwyth, UK Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, UK 2002 Galeria Omar Alonzo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 2001 FotoGaleria Teatro San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina Estudio Lisenberg, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2000 John Stevenson Gallery, New York, USA Group Exhibitions (Selected) 2020 ‘Vernissage 30 years In Focus Gallery, Cologne’, in focus Galerie – Fotografie, Germany 2019 Museum Villa Rot 2019, Burgrieden, Germany 2018 ‘Human Nature’, Karin Weber Gallery, Hong Kong 2017 ‘Monochromatic Works’, Wei-Ling Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2016 Michal Macku, Antonit Tesař, Jan Saudek, Galerie STP, Greifswald, Germany 2015 ‘Love is...’, In Focus Galeria, Cologne, Germany ‘A Touch of Glass’, Karin Weber Gallery, HK ‘Black + White’, Karin Weber Gallery, HK 2014 ‘Zářivý krystal - Bohumil Kubišta a české umění 1905 – 2013’, Galerie Výtrvarného umění v Ostravě, Ostrava, Czech Republic ’Meta-illusioni: il giardino dell´impossibile’, Villa di Donato, Napoli, Italy 2010 Exposed - Nude Photography in the XX, Century, In Focus Galerie, Köln, Germany ‘Darkness for Light - Czech Photography Today’, Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2009 Tschechische Fotografie des 20. Jahrhunderts, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn, Germany 2008 Love – frammenti visivi di un discorso amoroso, Gallerie Civiche d´Arte Contemporanea di Palazzo, Ducale, Modena, Italy 2007 ‘Expressive Bodies: Contemporary Art Photography from The Kinsey Institute’, Herron Gallery, Indianapolis, USA 2006 ‘Noble Processes, in a Digital Age’, John Stevenson Gallery, New York, USA ‘Autopoesis’, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia 24

KARIN WEBER GALLERY

2005 NEW ART Redefining „The Photograph“ – collage, overpainting, 3-dimensions, and more, John Stevenson Gallery, New York, USA Czech Photography of the 20th Century, The City Gallery of Prague, Prague, Czech Republic 2003 ‘Celebration of Light: Photographs from the Collection of Cherye and Jim Pierce’, Honolulu Academy of Arts in Honolulu, USA 2001 ‘Re-presenting Representation V - Arnot Art Museum’, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, New York, USA Collections Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX, USA Museum for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark The Royal Library of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris; Harvard Visual Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois, USA Moravská galerie v Brně, Brno, Czech Republic Muzeum Umění Olomouc, Czech Republic; MOPA - Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, USA Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA Kinsey Institute, Indianapolis, USA Collection of Cherye R. and James F. Pierce Private art collection of Jacqueline Bisset

Established in 1999 by German-born Karin Weber and now in its 21st year, Karin Weber Gallery is one of Hong Kong’s oldest contemporary art galleries. Situated on Aberdeen Street, in the heart of SoHo, the gallery presents a year-round program of curated exhibitions, talks, and collector events. As unique network of partners based in London, Mumbai and Berlin allows us to source emerging and established contemporary art from around the world. We are equally passionate about presenting works by local artists. The gallery assists artists through exhibitions, art fairs, and residency programs throughout the world. Small in size, yet global in outlook, Karin Weber Gallery is one of Hong Kong’s truly international boutique galleries.

Art Fairs Photo London, Art Chicago, SCOPE New York, Art Stage Singapore, SCOPE Miami, Art Verona, SCOPE Basel, ARCO Madrid, Photo Miami, Art First Bologna, Cologne Fine Art Fair, Art Karlsruhe, Germany Publications (selected) The Metamorphosis of Macku, Walter Guadagnini, Brescia, Italy, 2013 The Elements of Photography, Angela Faris Belt, Focal Press, USA, 2008 Black & White Magazine, Issue 79, March 2007, USA Schwarzweiss 46, Das Magazin für Fotografie, Juni-Juli 2005, Germany Vize, čin, sen, smrt (Vision, Deed, Dream, Death), 2005, Exhibition catalogue, Galerie Brno, CR Strange Genius, 2002, The Journal of Contemporary Photography, Volume V, USA Re-presenting Representation V, 2001, Arnot Art Museum, NY Akt v ceske fotografii - The Nude in Czech Photography, Vladimir Birgus and Jan Mlcoch, KANT, Prague 2001 The AIPAD Photography Show, 2000 Membership Directory and Illustrated Catalogue, Washington, D.C. Fotografie v Českých zemích 1839 - 1999, Vladimír Birgus, Pavel Scheufler, Prague 1999 25