Jiří David: When Darkness is Necessary for Vision

Jiří David's cycle of fourteen large-format works from 2023 presents an existential statement in which the artist opens up space for critical reflection on the current state of the world and his own inner self. Formally, it follows the tradition of the fourteen stations of the Cross, but it is not directly a religious illustration. Jiří David uses this historically charged scheme as a structural framework for an exploration of themes of human suffering, inner transformation, and the experience of "being in uncertainty." The bottom layer of the paintings consists of a collage of fragments from global periodicals, representing media noise and the endless flow of information that can lead to a desensitization to evil. Into this field are inserted intimate fragments of the author's life and a disturbing insect "bestiary" (fleas, spiders). These tiny life forms symbolize the parasitic component of reality that imperceptibly settles in our perception and recall tragic historical connotations associated with dehumanization. Black, irregular stains of impasto painting cut across the entire surface of the works. These visual shadows, reminiscent of "remains of bodies," are a metaphor for unexpressed pain and loss. Although they physically cover the fragments beneath them, they simultaneously emphasize them and bring considerable brutality and a concentrated sense of weight into the works.

Jiří David (* 1956, Rumburk) graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. In 1987, he co-founded the legendary art group Tvrdohlaví, which significantly influenced the form of the Czech art scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Throughout his rich career, David has established himself as a multidisciplinary artist who refuses to remain within one style or medium; his work organically connects painting, conceptual photography, and installation. A typical feature of his work is critical reflection on social and political themes, exploration of personal and collective memory, and provocative work with identity. He became widely known to the public primarily through the installation of a neon heart above Prague Castle in 2014, which was created as a tribute to the legacy of Václav Havel. In addition to his own artistic work, David has long been involved in pedagogical activities, especially leading the Intermedia Confrontation studio at UMPRUM in Prague.

The festive opening will take place on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 6 PM at the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery, Goethova stezka 6. The exhibition will be opened by Jana Bömerová, director of the gallery, and the exhibition curator Julie Motyčka. The exhibition will run until Sunday, October 4, 2026.