The opening was taken place on Tuesday 28 March at 5 p.m.

Eduard Ovčáček (1933–2022) was associated with Ostrava for much of his life, and he had a major impact on the post-war art scene in the city and far beyond. The creative quality of his oeuvre ranks him among the leading artists of his era not only on a regional or national level, but throughout Europe as a whole. He was a central figure who acted as a bridge linking the late 20th century with contemporary art.

Eduard Ovčáček was the type of person who was kept awake at night by the way things are. His importance lies not only in the works he produced, but also in the example he set – proving to us that it is possible to live an active life with a clear conscience. Whatever the circumstances, he always strove to achieve positive change. He was one of the first Czech artists to explore the possibilities of lettrism, which became one of the core aspects of his work; he was one of the foremost representatives of lettrist art in Central Europe.

This exhibition has been conceived as an homage and an expression of gratitude to an artist whose work, civic engagement and teaching cannot be overlooked. To commemorate this towering figure, the Gallery of Fine Arts is devoting the entire House of Art to Ovčáček, opening three parallel exhibitions created by three different curators who have specialized in his work for many years.

Curator: Jiří Jůza, Jiří Machalický
Text: Jiří Jůza
Translation: Christopher Hopkinson
Graphic design: Katarína Jamrišková
Promotion: Jana Malášek Šrubařová, Magdaléna Staňková
Educational programmes: Jana Sedláková, Zuzana Grulichová