Although Martin Kaiser (1971) and Dalibor Nesnídal (1954) now live in the countryside, they spent many years working in Karlovy Vary, where they were important figures in the local cultural scene—not only in the visual arts, but also in music and theatre. Their artistic work shares several defining characteristics: in addition to exceptional craftsmanship, it is marked by a strong imaginative dimension, a sense of humor, and a distinctive narrative quality. Dalibor Nesnídal originally trained as an artistic blacksmith and glass engraver. Since 2000, he has focused on illustration and artists’ books, while also creating bizarre and imaginative objects from natural materials that he collects during his travels around the world. Martin Kaiser became involved in Karlovy Vary’s independent cultural scene during the 1990s. This milieu maintained strong connections to the subversive traditions of the Czech underground. Kaiser’s principal medium became collage, rooted in the surrealist lineage, although he earns his living primarily as a graphic designer. The work of both artists is part of a tradition rooted in the strong influence of the art of Emperor Rudolf II’s Prague. It is therefore no coincidence that this exhibition in Cheb evokes a contemporary cabinet of curiosities (Kunstkammer), conceived as a dialogue between the two artists.
Breakfast in Kaiserwald and Other Stories -
Breakfast in Kaiserwald and Other Stories
By Marcel Fišer
Opens in 64 days
