Leica Gallery Prague in co-operation with Centre tchèque de Paris present the exhibition of the leading contemporary Czech photographer Vaclav Jirasek – Industria.
“These works touch upon the highly compelling theme of the disappearance of these “cathedrals of labour”, symbols of progress since the early 19th century, which later, in the ideology and propaganda of the Communist regime played a particularly significant, if nevertheless ambiguous, role. Within the process of their present metamorphoses, we can quite clearly discern, in addition, the depth of the changes that have occurred since Communism’s fall in 1989. The deserted spaces of manufacturing halls remain, to this day, evidence of the environmental devastation caused by their industrial production, yet as well bear forth traces of the need, at least to some degree, to render these life-threatening working environments a sense of humanity. Václav Jirásek strives to underscore the monumentality of industrial buildings, as a reflection of humanity’s ability to reach for the very bounds of the human dimensions, yet at the same time not to avoid depicting the negative aspects of this process.”
Petr Nedoma
Václav Jirásek
Born 3 November 1965, Karvina, Czech Republic. Vaclav Jirasek was originally trained as a painter. He studied the Secondary School of Applied Art Brno, Specialization Applied Graphics and then he graduated from The School of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 1990.
In the years 1989–1994, he was one of the founding members of the artistic group Bratrstvo (“Brotherhood” a retro romantic group of Czech photographers curiously inspired by Ruskin, the pre-raphaelites and the rock-fashion photographer Anton Corbijn). With Brotherhood he exhibited his photographic work anonymously.
His photography skills are self-taught. In his later career, he has turned away from painting and since 1994, he has focused on photography without thematic limitation. The common denominator of his work is the interest in mystery, guise, irony, decadence, and recycling of art.
Jirasek’s photographs are held in private and public collections around the world.
Vaclav Jirasek – Industria
From November 16 until December 21, 2012
Centre Culturel Tchèque
18 rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris – France
Tuesday – Saturday : 1 – 6 p.m.
Wednesday : 1 – 8 p.m.
