Escaping Reality: Art Brut from Czechia
Escaping Reality features some of the most striking art brut artists from the 20th century, like the creator of imaginative flowers Anna Zemánková, the spiritualist medium F. J. Pecka, along with contemporary self-taught artists like the “megapolis architect” Ota Prouza, who travels through his art from the insides of the psychiatric institution where he lives.
Art brut (also called outsider art) has been receiving well-deserved attention in recent decades and is making its way into important private collections and public institutions. It offers viewers a sincere testimony, conveys emotions in an authentic way and has unique aesthetic qualities. It knows no self-censorship, there are no copies or imitations, and the artworks are not subject to artistic trends and styles. Its creators are usually self-taught solitary authors, cultural outsiders, neurodivergent people or people who have experienced mental illnesses, which in turn liberated their creativity. For all these people, artmaking is an intrinsic need and often becomes a ritual.
In Central Europe, Czechia included, this phenomenon is strongly represented, both in contemporary and historical production, the latter being dominated by drawings by spiritual mediums. In the Czech Republic it is mainly the ABCD association that has been dedicated to the study and dissemination of this type of art.
The project was realized thanks to the financial support of the State Fund of Cuture of the Czech Republic.
The exhibition is organized under the auspices of Mr Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
Press release and images via Czech Center New York.
