The opening will take place on Tuesday 31 January at 5 p.m.

The painter and graphic artist František Tichý (1896–1961) worked mainly alone, while Karel Holan (1893–1953) belonged to the Ho-Ho-Ko-Ko Social Group. They were very different artists, but they both painted circus scenes. For Holan, the circus was more of a marginal interest, featuring in his socially committed work from the 1920s. Scenes from the circus can be found in a cycle of wood engravings inspired by his stay in Paris, some of which are presented here. By contrast, Tichý repeatedly returned to themes of clowns, ventriloquists and circus performers until the 1950s. He likened fine art to the art of the circus: The important things in art are doubt, fear of imperfection, the anxiety that everything will be lost and that everyone else will do it better. He depicted circus scenes using various graphic techniques, and he was also fond of experimentation. This small-scale exhibition at the Graphic Art Department shows precisely that. 

Gabriela Pelikánová

Curator: Gabriela Pelikánová
Text: Gabriela Pelikánová
Translation: Christopher Hopkinson
Graphic design: Katarína Jamrišková
Promotion: Jana Malášek Šrubařová, Magdaléna Staňková
Educational programmes: Hedvika Dalecká, Jana Sedláková

free of charge