Petr Kvíčala: Sight-Specific (22. 4. - 20. 6. 2011)
The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art presents the exhibition of Petr Kvíčala Sight-Specific. The exhibition will have two parts: a selection of his painting cycles from past two years and a monumental Zig Zag Corridor painting on the walls of the 22 metres long ramp between the exhibition space and the Café.
The essence of Petr Kvíčala’s paintings is an abstract linear ornament, the logic of its development and an investigation of the optical effects produced by such paintings. The first part of the exhibition shown in the tower presents a choice of author´s paintings. In contrast with his earlier work, where the artist emphasised a subjective style, these new paintings are shaped by the use of overlapping bands. They are more precise, and resemble digital works with their clearly defined blocks with sharp edges. The surface of a painting evokes modern architecture or computer graphics guided by an algorithm expressible in mathematics. For the most part the viewer cannot detect the specific ordering principle, but is aware of its presence in the visual effect of these compositions.
The second part of the exhibition is an artwork demonstrating the “sight-specific” properties of Kvíčala’s works for architecture. Zig Zag Corridor is based on a series of paintings that Kvíčala has produced since 2003. The essence is an extended line that turns at right angles. We can read the painting produced by this line in two ways. Looking at it straight on, we see the line twisting at right angles; looking at it from the side the line blends into the surface from a particular angle and creates vertical zigzagging “roads”. This Kvíčala’s latest work, has been produced for a 22-metre long corridor with a sloping floor. The painting not only modifies the character of the architecture, but it dynamically changes depending on the viewer’s position and motion.
“Petr Kvíčala is among those lucky artists whose output works at several levels. It is rooted in a long-term programme of abstract painting, yet it is also visually appealing. It blends a conceptual approach and sensory attractiveness,“ comments Tomáš Pospiszyl, the exhibition curator.
Petr Kvíčala was born in 1960. He has centred upon ornament since the mid-1980’s. The basic elements of his visual language are ornamental lines such as wavy lines, zigzag lines and loops that he combines, multiplies and arranges into overlaps and layers. The rhythmical segmentation and repetition of lines and areas refer to prehistoric art and folk ornament, as well as to classic modernism and contemporary abstract art. Petr Kvíčala’s oeuvre comprises procesual art as well as monochromes and installations. The year 1995 marked the artist’s first intervention into architecture, resulting in a large series of art projects in architecture, a subject that has remained in the spotlight of his professional interest to this day. Petr Kvíčala has lectured at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Brno University of Technology (VUT) since 1994 where he heads an art department.
Accompanying programme:
2 May at 6 pm - guided tour with the curator Tomáš Pospiszyl
9 June at 6 pm - guided tour with the author Petr Kvíčala
More information at www.dox.cz
Contact for media:
Michaela Šilpochová
T: +420 774 222 355
E: media@dox.cz
DOX Centre for Contepmorary art
Poupětova 1, 170 00 Praha 7
www.dox.cz