Hunt Kastner

hunt kastner artworks is very pleased to present a new project by the Czech artist Jiri Prihoda, in his first solo exhibition in the Czech Republic since 2003.

Prihoda’s work has characteristically bordered between art and architecture. He creates optical illusions to break down the ways in which we perceive day-to-day reality in site specific installations that react to the architecture of a given space by making use of its unique properties and elements. In his new work the artist is interested in the deformation of the given space – in this case the gallery - as well as of its original and traditional functions and use. The gallery space itself become the art work as the artist recreates an “object” – one that we are familiar with or expect to see - and in doing so recreates its potential. He removes the distortions that we are accustomed to and replaces them with new distortions. In this, he is also playing with memory and the visual expectations based on our memories.

With this new sculptural work, Príhoda penetrates directly into the space with the result that the 2-dimensional façade of the gallery is transformed into a 3-dimensional work of art that can be entered into and experienced in a new and unexpected way – should the viewer so dare. He dissolves the borders between the interior and exterior of the gallery bringing the gallery out onto the street – or equally the street into the gallery. He works in harmony with the surrounding environment, so that the changes are subtle and only gradually perceived – everything at first glance looks status quo before we realize that something is missing – or is it that something has been added? Where does the gallery start? where does the street end? Walter Benjamin wrote that the city street becomes the vessel of a memory of something that has been there, and will be there again, but is not here at that moment of experiencing. Prihoda’s work refers to this assumption, as he plays with the architecture of memory as much as he does with the architecture of the space and its functions.

Jiri Prihoda (1966, Jihlava, CZ) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague from 1990-1996. In 1997, he was awarded with the Jindrich Chalupecky Award for young artists, and in 2005 was acknowledged by the Czech Architect’s Society for the best art work in architecture. His most familiar work are large site specific sculptures and installations, but he also works with video and film projects that he manipulates in various ways and presents in self-prepared spatial situations. The artist is also a well-known graphic designer and the architect of several innovated group exhibition installations at institutions such as the City Gallery of Prague. Since 2005, he teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague as the head of the studio of monumental sculpture.