20
In 1996 Techo issued the first of its annual limited edition prints by leading Czech and Slovak artists – Techo Art Collection. Later a series of T-shirts were produced to accompany the prints. The T-shirt motif is created by the same artist as that year’s print, and they are loosely linked. When we started producing furniture and fitting out commercial interiors we were aware that art is an integral part of what we do. It is not uncommon for a renowned artist to engage in the design of furniture and accessories, and then all these activities mutually influence each other. In 2001 we organized the project Factory Talk Techo, which involved the installation of works of art produced by leading Czech painters and sculptors and the documentation of this factory art project by renowned Czech professional photographers. Part of the project was a questionnaire completed by employees and analysed by a psychologist who had the task of determining the influence of fine art on the workplace. This project was very positively received and many of the works became a permanent fixture at Techo. Following on from this project we arranged a series of meetings with artists for our employees. As one of the first we supported the newly established DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, which has proved to be an exceptional project. In 2014 we unveiled our new showroom concept, which we created in cooperation with architectural studio ADR and graphic design studio Jarosdesign. It is a space where art holds an important place and creates, along with multimedia technology, a harmonic environment. We strive to be the best we can in our field and therefore for our projects we select the best artists. This brief overview of our projects should act as motivation for the continuation of these activities, and we hope you draw inspiration from the Techo Art Collection. J I Ř Í K E J VA L Chairman of the Board of Directors
1997
Oldřich Kulhánek
(*26. 2. 1940, +28. 1. 2013), lithograph, 32 x 20 cm, Kámen štěstí (Stone of Fortune)
1996 Karel Chaba
(*3. 8. 1925, +24. 8. 2009), coloured drypoint, 42 x 30 cm, Mostecká ulice
1999 Jiří Šalamoun
(*17. 4. 1935), lithograph, 56 x 70 cm
1998
2000
(*20. 6. 1942), lithograph, 66 x 48 cm
(*30. 4. 1947), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm, Hnízdo (Nest)
Pavel Roučka
Vladimír Novák
Factory Project 2001 2001
Michael Rittstein
(*17. 9. 1949), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm, Křižovatka (Intersection)
In 2001, TECHO hosted its boldest art event – the Factory Project. TECHO was by then experienced in the use of art to enhance office environments, but what about a factory shop floor? How would the workers react to this change in their working environment and what would visitors from outside think about seeing an art exhibition in a factory rather than a gallery? This is what made it such a compelling concept. It was an adventure into the unknown in which people’s response to the project would be as interesting and important as the art itself. After the initial hesitation when the idea was first floated, there was no turning back. JIRI KEJVAL Managing Director TECHO, a.s. When you have spent a long time in the business world, it can sometimes happen that you suddenly feel a certain emptiness. In such a case, paintings hung over the assembly line of a factory aren’t such a crazy idea - they acquire a deeper meaning, challenging you to focus your thoughts. They make you look for your own values and confront them.
Factory Project 2001
Jan Backovsky Jiri Beranek Anna Cejkova Jaroslav E. Dvorak Ivan Komarek Richard Konvicka Dominik Mares Jiri Naceradsky Vladimir Novak Nikola Novakova Matej Olmer Petr Pavlik Michael Rittstein Pavel Roucka Karel CudlĂn Lubomir Fuxa Bohdan Holomicek Jiri Kolis Zdenek Lhotak Andrea Lhotakova
Factory Project 2001
2002 Jiří Načeradský
(*9. 9. 1939, +16. 4. 2014), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm, Dialog (Dialogue)
2003
Ivan Komárek 2003
(*24. 12. 1956), lithograph, 50 x 62 cm, Olgoj Techoj
2005 Jiří Sopko
(*20. 2. 1942), aquatint, 48 x 58 cm
2004
Václav Bláha
(*1. 4. 1949), lithograph, 50 x 70 cm, Hlava v oblacích (Head in the Clouds)
2007 Rudolf Sikora
(*17. 4. 1946), offset, 70 x 50 cm, Koncentrácia energií (čierná diera) (Energy Concentration – Black Hole)
2006 Ivan Ouhel
(*18. 2. 1945), woodcut, 50 x 60 cm
2008 Jan Kubíček
(* 30. 12. 1927, +14. 10. 2013), screen print, 70 x 50 cm
2009 Aleš Lamr
(* 12. 6. 1943), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm, Nahoru, dolů (Up, Down)
Milan Jaroš (*18. 6. 1953), T-shirt
2011 Kurt Gebauer
(* 18. 8. 1941), lithograph, 72 x 51 cm, Borůvkový otisk (Blueberry Imprint)
2010
Richard Konvička (* 30. 4. 1957), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm
2012
František Hodonský
(* 19. 2. 1945), lithograph, 70 x 50 cm, Podzimní břehy (Autumn Banks)
2013 Theodor Pišťek
(* 25. 10. 1932), lithograph, 44 x 56 cm, Farewell
2015 Petr Pavlík
(* 31. 1. 1945), screen print, 56 x 45 cm, Altamira today
2014 Tomáš Bím
(* 12. 11. 1946), lithograph, 56 x 45 cm
Techo Showroom
MICHAEL RITTSTEIN
JAKUB FLEJŠAR
JIŘÍ SOPKO
JIŘÍ BERÁNEK
MICHAEL RITTSTEIN
VÁCLAV BLÁHA
PAVEL ROUČKA
MICHAEL RITTSTEIN
MICHAEL RITTSTEIN, JIŘÍ BERÁNEK
Techo Showroom
KAREL ŠTĚDRÝ
PAVEL KRAUS
20 Issued to mark 20 years of the Techo Art Collection Photography: ADR, Filip Šlapal, Milan Jaroš jnr. Graphic design: Jarosdesign Not for resale © Techo 2015