The Central Bohemian Gallery in Kutná Hora presents works by constructivists

Kutná – Kutná Hora April 11 (ČTK) – More than seventy works by Czech constructivists Milan Mölzer, František Kyncl, and Jiří Hilmar will be presented in a new exhibition that begins on Sunday at the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region (GASK) in Kutná Hora. It focuses on their work and activities in West Germany, where they emigrated in 1968, as well as their connections to the artistic scene in Düsseldorf, Germany. The exhibition is the first comprehensive presentation of the trio's work, curators said during today’s guided tour. The exhibition, which is the main undertaking of the new season at GASK, will run until September 13.

According to the curators, the exhibition titled Mölzer Kyncl Hilmar 1968–1978 succeeded in gathering works that have not been presented together before. "It's interesting how similar these works are and in what ways their approaches are different, because we can say that they grow from a similar foundation and develop each in a somewhat distinct direction," curator Pavel Kappel said during the guided tour. According to him, the constructive basis is evident, but there is also a significant degree of craftsmanship. He states that this is a chapter in the history of Czech art that took place far to the west of Czech borders.

The exhibition is conceived as a map of relationships, places, and events that shaped the work of the trio of Czech authors in exile. It presents both essential and previously unexhibited works from public and private collections from the Czech Republic and abroad. According to the curators, the use of archival materials was crucial, revealing new connections regarding the trio's activities abroad. Research work, according to curator Veronika Marešová, uncovered the interconnections and mutual support among the authors, each of whom left for exile under different conditions.

The exhibition features works on paper – reliefs and objects, three sound showers, and a dynamic film script. The works demonstrate the experimental nature of the creations and their European reach. The backbone of the exhibition consists of selections from František Kyncl's diaries from 1968 to 1978. The choice of this ten-year period is also related to the premature death of Milan Mölzer in 1976 and frames the time from the departure of the trio into exile to their first significant international successes.

Mölzer's work encompasses drawing, conceptual notation, and experimentation. He is particularly known for his travel drawings created during train rides as a sort of graphic record of movement. Hilmar was a prominent representative of the geometric and constructive trend in Czech art, known especially for his paper reliefs. His works typically have a square format. Kyncl's works are based on precisely defined systems, variations, and structures. His drawing and painting records confronted acoustic effects and created organically growing three-dimensional objects.

A bilingual publication accompanies the exhibition. The project also includes a complementary program, such as guided tours, programs for families with children, or summer day camps. The GASK educational center has prepared an interactive studio as part of the exhibition, allowing visitors to actively participate and record their own experience of the exhibition.