Jan Kubíček facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Kubíček
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Jan Kubíček in Prague (1970)
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| Born | December 30, 1927 |
| Died | October 14, 2013 (aged 85) Kolín, Czech Republic
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| Nationality | Czechoslovakian, Czech |
| Education | School of Applied Arts in Prague, Academy of Performing Arts in Prague |
| Known for | Painting, printmaking, photography |
| Movement | Constructivism, Lettrism, Concrete art |
| Awards | Vladimír Boudník Award |
Jan Kubíček (born December 30, 1927 – died October 14, 2013) was a talented Czech artist. He was known for his paintings, prints, and photographs. He was a leading artist in Central Europe, especially in styles called Constructivism and Concrete Art.
Jan Kubíček also spent over ten years illustrating children's books. He worked for a big publishing house called Albatros. He also designed famous film posters and book covers in the 1960s. He explored a style called Lettrism in the early 1960s. For his amazing work in photography, illustrations, and graphic art, he won the Vladimír Boudník Award in 1999.
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Becoming an Artist
Jan Kubíček studied art in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. From 1949 to 1953, he attended the School of Applied Arts. He learned from Professor Jan Novak.
After that, from 1954 to 1957, he studied scenography. This is the art of designing stage sets for plays and movies. He studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with Professor František Tröster.
Kubíček was part of a group of Czech designers called Hollar. He also showed his art in exhibitions of Czech Constructivism. He was also involved with a group called Klub Konkretistov.
Jan Kubíček's Art Style
Jan Kubíček greatly influenced Czech art after World War II. At first, his paintings were bright and clear. This was different from the "dark" art styles of the time.
From 1962 to 1966, he helped create the Czech version of the international Lettrism movement. This style uses letters and words as art. Starting in 1967, Kubíček became a key artist in Neo-Constructivism. He continued to develop his unique geometric art style throughout his life.
His photographs are also very important, even if they are not often talked about. His art, especially his Lettrism and geometric works, shows a strong sense of order. They have a clear visual message and are made with precise painting skills.
Ahead of His Time
Jan Kubíček was often ahead of other artists of his time. Because of strict rules in his country, his art was not widely known until recent years. Art expert Jiří Machalický said that Kubíček's art was not just a math game. It was a precise way to solve problems using his artistic feeling.
His work as a whole shows a strong logic. It also had the ability to open up new ideas. His art was a natural part of both Czech and European art. It helped continue the ideas of pure abstract and constructivist art.
Kubíček was fascinated by the look of modern cities. This led him to use geometry in his art in his own unique way. He was one of the few Czech artists who focused on conceptual geometry. Since the 1960s, his art has been deeply rooted in constructivist ideas.
His most famous works include paintings and prints. He also made constructivist objects from plastic and metal. Kubíček is considered one of the most important Czech constructivist artists. He is often mentioned alongside Zdeněk Sýkora and Karel Malich.
Sharing His Art
In 1968, during a time of change in his country, Kubíček took a chance. He managed to transport his artworks across the border without permission. He had a solo exhibition at Gallery Teufel in Koblenz, Germany.
This allowed Kubíček to connect with artists from Western countries. His art was very similar to international art trends. Like other important constructivist artists, Kubíček became popular in Switzerland, Holland, and especially Germany.
Art Objects
Early in his career, Kubíček realized that adding a third dimension would make his art more interesting. He found that Perspex (a type of clear plastic) was perfect for this. By layering sheets of Perspex, viewers could see through the objects. The layers also made colors look different than when mixed with paint.
Kubíček said, "The main idea of my geometric work is simplicity." He explained that when he made art from wood or other materials, some parts of the design would be hidden. But Perspex made the design clear and easy to see.
Besides smaller metal artworks, Kubíček designed rods and prisms. These were shown in the Gallery of Václav Špála in 1969. They were a very simple, minimalist art display. These art objects are a special part of Kubíček's work. There are not many of them, and they are different from his other art. Many of these objects were made in the mid to late 1960s. Some were never shown to the public before.
Kubíček knew the possibilities of plastic design. However, he was not able to make very large plastic artworks. So, he designed them as experiments or samples. He once said that most of these pieces ended up in German collections. Some are owned by collectors and museums in the Czech Republic.
Eventually, Kubíček went back to his main art form: painting. He continued to develop and improve his painting skills. His art objects therefore became a special, finished collection. Kubíček felt that most of his object designs remained as sketches. He wished they could be built into buildings. This would show their 3D form and share his important geometric and constructivist ideas. In 2016, one of his large object designs was finally built. Architect Zdeněk Fránek created it as a memorial to Jan Kubíček. It is in a public park in Kolín, his hometown.
Exhibitions
In April 2014, six months after Jan Kubíček passed away, a big art show was held. The Prague Municipal Gallery showed about 150 of his artworks. These pieces came from collections in the Czech Republic and Europe. This exhibition helped more people appreciate Kubíček's art.
The next year, a smaller version of this exhibition traveled to the Anger Museum in Erfurt, Germany.
