VIKTOR KARLÍK
Painter, graphic artist, author of sculptures and objects, regarded as the most prominent visual artist of the called second generation of Czech underground. The majority of his works are free art, and much them are related to the Prague quarter of Smíchov.
After graduating from the Secondary School of Graphic Arts he worked at the depository of the Oriental collections of the National Gallery in Prague, also as a restorer, but above all he devoted himself to his own graphic work and was involved in a number of unofficial cultural activities. In 1985, he co-founded the underground magazine Revolver Revue, in 1995 the RR Critical Supplement, and in 1990 he was one of the founders of the Respekt weekly. Apart from being active as a graphic artist, he is still active as a publisher, editor and curator, working on selected projects which focus mainly on unknown, neglected, banned or troublesome personalities and works. He has designed a number of publications, some of which he illustrated (e. g. Dreams…, a poetry book by Zbyněk Hejda, or a selection of poems by J. H. Krchovský, titled One More Spring Then). He has won several awards for his graphic work.
He exhibits both at home and abroad and his works are represented in public collections and numerous private collections both in the Czech Republic and abroad. In 2001, a comprehensive book about his graphic work titled Catalogue was published on the occasion of this retrospective exhibition (Klatovy / Klenová Gallery). A volume containing his serigraphic works on plywood was published in Prague in 2003. Karlík also published albums titled Memorial (Prague, 1994) and Linoleums (Prague, 2000). In 2004, he published Linoleums 2000-2004, a book containing his linocuts and original texts (Prague), in 2005 an artist's book titled Black Works (Prague), in 2010 the Czech, English and French edition of the book Světla města / The City Lights / Les Lumières de la ville / 1990-2010 (Prague), and in 2012 Podzemní práce / Underground work, a book about the underground period of his work (Czech-English edition). In 2015 saw the publication of the second edition of Karlík‘s book Hands of Poets.
Karlík is the author of the bronze plaque of the underground musician Milan Mejla Hlavsa (unveiled in Prague in 2005), the bronze awards of Jihlava Documentary Film Festival and of the Revolver Revue Award. His project The Journey of Jan Hanč, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Jan Hanč and consisting of seven reliefs, was unveiled in Pilsen on May 30, 2016.
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From the texts about the works of Viktor Karlík
Since 2000, the “found” objects – a lamp, a traffic light, a smokestack – which Karlík is so fond of, have been turning to “classic” means of expression on a new level. Readymades, which a century ago jumped out of paintings and replaced sculptures, are obediently returning to their original place. Karlík treats them using different material versions: he creates oil paintings and watercolours in delicate scales of grey, minimalist moderate linocuts and serigraphs, and, in recent years, also reliefs, sculptures and objects, in which the protagonists of his paintings and linocuts appear in a three-dimensional form. He names and dates each of these works, featuring an identical motif, transferred into another material and technique, as a new work of art, although sometimes they represent almost an original replica, and his favourite compositions often have three or four different versions, which utilize different materials.
In the culminating "age of mechanical reproducibility", Karlík’s journey eventually returns to art, which requires direct perception and personal contact, the values of which cannot be conveyed by any reproduction or digitization, and the meanings of which cannot be translated into a rapidly processable slogan. In the early 21st century, when new technologies allow us in a split second to communicate around the world and outside of our galaxy, Karlík dusts off deferred conservative art forms, returning to art, which still could possess an "aura", and reconstituting the character and symbolic meanings of the depiction. However, this conservatism represents an intrinsic value today. Its preconditions are precisely those qualities that once adorned the shields of the members of the avant-garde: an independent and strong opinion, internal consistency, honesty and the courage to stand outside the officially recognized standards.
Pavla Pečinková
Thanks to Karlík’s developed sense for choice of material, the original works are characterized by subtle effects: the processing of coloured materials in paintings and sculptures meets the light and its diverse games with reflections and shadows in finely graded transitions between matte and shiny, smooth or wrinkled surfaces.
Viktor Šlajchrt
The selection of each step is a result of the symbiosis of instinct and balance, adherence to the initial starting-points and permanent critical appreciation of the known world.
Michael Špirit
What also deserves to be mentioned is Karlík’s sense of humour. I should point out right away that it is not the kind of humour that, when you are exposed to it, makes you grab your belly and fall to the ground laughing. Some characters grow chimneys, matches or a traffic light out of their heads. Another popular Karlík’s theme are road signs that have something human about them or, on the contrary, human figures with mechanical features. A human merges with a thing, a thing with a human. Taking into account this coalescence, one could describe Karlík’s humour, I hope that justifiably, as black.
Zbyněk Hejda
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 – Hands of Poets, Josef Sudek Studio, Prague
2014 – Inscriptions and Other Works, Václav Havel Library, Prague
2012 – Underground Work, The Eighties, Gallery of West Bohemia in Pilsen
2011 – City Lights, Czech Centre Prague, Prague
2010 – Les Lumières de la ville, Czech Centre Paris, France
2009 – Transformations of the Smíchov Pedestrian, Fons Gallery, Pardubice
2008 – Bronzes, Prints, Paintings, XXL Gallery, Louny
2006 – City Works, Vysočina Regional Gallery, Jihlava
2006 – Viktor Karlík, Litera Gallery, Praha
2005 – Black Works, ERWÉ Gallery, Písek
2004 – Exhibition, Navrátil Gallery, Prague
2004 – Linoleums, Czech Centre Munich, Germany
2004 – Paintings and Prints, Břeclav Town Museum and Gallery, Břeclav
2004 – Graphic Works and Watercolours, Jiří Jílek Gallery, Šumperk
2003 – Paintings, The Špillar Brothers Gallery, Domažlice
2003 – Nature Morte, Blue Grape Gallery, Litvínov
2002 – Linoleums, Archa Zlín, Zlín
2002 – Oils on Canvas, Navrátil Gallery, Prague
2002 – Czech Centre Bratislava, Slovakia
2002 – Priestor Gallery, Bratislava, Slovakia
2001 – White Rhino Gallery, Klatovy
2000/01 – Linoleum, Silent Handle Gallery, Prague
2000 – Nature Morte, Litera Gallery, Prague
1999 – Arko Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania
1999 – The Periphery Centre, Litera Gallery, Prague
1998 – Target Gallery (with J. Žáček and D. Němec), Washington, USA
1994 – SMÍCHov Club, Prague
1992 – Women’s Homes Cultural Centre, Prague
1992 –Na Zábradlí Theatre, Prague
1990 – Delta Club, Prague (with V. Kokolia)
1989 – Na Chmelnici Club, Praha
1987 – Hobby 82-87, Buďánka, U Zámečnice 2-4, Prague
1983 – U Santošky 9, Prague (with G. Fárová and M. Hlupý)
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2015 – To See, To Experience... (4 figural concepts), Vysočina Regional Gallery, Jihlava
2011 – City Intestines, Sewers in Cultural and Civilisation Contexts, National Technical Library, Prague
2011 – Vokno Gallery, Osvračín Mill, Osvračín u Domažlic
2009 – Confiscated, City Museum of Wroclaw, Wroclav, Poland
2007 – A Hommage to Chlupáč, Le Court Gallery, Prague
2007 – 5th Inernational Triennial of Graphic Arts, Old Town Hall, Prague
2006 – +-50, Generation of the 1980s, Klatovy/Klenová Gallery, Klatovy
2005 – Czech Linocut from the Collections of the Klatovy/Klenová Gallery, František Drtikol Gallery, Příbram
2004 - 3 + 2, Navrátil Gallery, Prague
2004 – 4th Inernational Triennial of Graphic Arts, Mánes, Prague
2003 – A Hommage to the Madonna, Navrátil Gallery, Prague, Archa Zlín, Zlín
2002/03 – Contemporary Watercolour, travelling exhibition, Navrátil Gallery, Prague, Caesar Gallery, Olomouc, The Good Shepherd Gallery and Kabinet Gallery, Brno
2002 – Wilderness – Nature, Soul, Language, Klatovy/Klenová Gallery, Klatovy
2001 – Graphic Art of the Year, Old Town Hall, Prague
2000 – Eighteen to Go, Navrátil Gallery, Prague
1995 – From the Graphic World of Revolver Revue, Zlín Castle, Zlín
1993 – If Only Hermína Could See This, Na Václavce Restaurant, Prague
1990-19991 – travelling Exhibition of Czechoslovak Graphic Artists, Poland
1990 – Czech Alternative, Centre for Folk Art Production, Prague
1990 – Polymorphism, Martin–Gropius–Bau, Berlin, Germany
1989 – Open Dialogue, The Past and the Present at the Vinohrady Market, Prague
1987 – Confrontation VI, Praha-Vysočany
1984 – Radlice II, U vodojemu 4, Prague
1983 – Radlice I, U Vodojemu 4, Prague
1981 – 2nd Exhibition of Desítka X/Violit, Černošice, Prague
1980 – 1st Exhibition of Desítka X/Violit, cellar of Nerudova 247/19, Prague
WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
National Gallery in Prague
Klatovy – Klenová Gallery
Museum of Art and Design in Benešov
