Dimensions: 28 x 21 cm (sheet)
signed and dated in ink lower right: 'Jiri Kolar 77'
publisher’s stamp lower left
Condition
work mounted
Biography
Jiří Kolář was a Czech artist who worked in the fields of poetry, drama, and visual arts. He began his career as a writer but turned to the visual arts in the late 1950s. His works showcasing various collage techniques brought him great popularity. The artist was the creator of new methods such as intercollage, muchlage, and rolage. He described and defined these techniques in his 1979 publication, *Slovník metod*. He referred to his work as poetry. Kolář’s work was a significant reference point for 20th-century Czech culture and the search for new artistic paths. He was one of the founders of the Czech group 42, consisting of artists and writers. In 1937, his first exhibition took place at the D 37 theater in Prague, where he presented twelve collages displaying surrealist characteristics. He began exhibiting again in the early 1960s. In 1969, he participated in the São Paulo Biennial. His works were exhibited, among other places, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 1975. From 1979 onward, he lived in exile, primarily in Paris. In the late 1990s, he returned to Prague, where he lived until his death. In 2012, a monographic exhibition of the artist’s work was held at MOCAK in Kraków. Kolář was greatly inspired by the art of the Dadaists and Surrealists, which is reflected in his works. The artist’s works feature collages in various forms and variations. Poetry lies at the heart of the artist’s work. In his pieces, Kolář oscillates between language, words, images, and his own life experiences. Most of Kolář’s works are constructed from cut-up reproductions of paintings, photographs, or printed texts, creating an effect of structural movement and a shattered mirror. Through his techniques, the artist emphasizes that he creates new, individual, and unique works from familiar materials. Using various forms of expression, he creates works that incorporate elements of visual poetry, surrealism, and existentialist philosophy.
