Jan Frydrych

Jan Frydrych, one of the most important Czech glass cutters, was born in 1953 in Šumperk, North Moravia. He trained in the field of cutting and from the beginning showed an extraordinary sense of shape and detail. Already during his studies at the Faculty of Education in Ústí nad Labem, he began to devote himself to his own work, in which he was able to combine the precision of the technique with original artistic expression. His specialization became cut lead glass, which under his hands acquired a sculptural character. Since the 1970s, he has collaborated with leading glass artists - Václav Cigler and Marian Karel - and gradually built his own studio. Thanks to his mastery, he has become a respected figure in Czech glassmaking. Today, he is considered one of the most outstanding cutters who have enriched the reputation of Czech glass in the world.

For Jan Frydrych's work, glass is not only a material, but a mediator that can constantly create its own microcosms thanks to precisely thought-out angles and refraction of light. With optical glass, as its name suggests, several other aspects play a role – not only the object itself, but also its location in space and the viewer's angle of view. Therefore, in each glass object, its own microcosm is constantly being created and destroyed, which is where the magic and directly meditative property of works such as "lentils" lies. Their precisely chosen shape reflects, but at the same time uniquely deforms, the world around it and creates its fantastic, directly dreamlike, copy enclosed in a fleeting moment. We as viewers can look at the individual "lentils" as a kind of lens outside our eyes, which reflect, but at the same time co-create what we actually perceive around us. It is no longer just a reflection of what is, but of what could be and which stimulates fantasy and imagination. It is the constant creation of new microcosms under the influence of changing environments and angles of view, something in which glass as a material excels. We can consider it a kind of meditative exercise, during which we can reflect not only on the craftsmanship of their processing, but also perceive through them how the surrounding world can change with just a slightly different perspective. Glass has long been no longer just about decoration or practical function, but goes beyond its practical side by encouraging viewers to think deeper, while still maintaining its aesthetic value. The author thus achieves a very interesting result with a shape that is at first glance simple, but is well thought out and sophisticated from a craft and artistic point of view. Frydrych shows not only his amazing craftsmanship and knowledge of the properties of glass, but also a deeper artistic perspective and the accumulation of years of experience with a material that is not easy to master.

In the international context, Jan Frydrych is ranked among the most prominent authors of cut glass and his works are valued at exhibitions and in collections throughout Europe (Victoria and Albert Museum, London), the USA (The Corning Museum of Glass) and Japan.



Silvie Stanická