Mácha Contemplations project is based on the poem “Máj” – May – by the Czech poet Karel Hynek Mácha. The story it narrates took place in the 1770s, that is, sixty years prior to Mácha’s poetic interpretation thereof. Mácha masterfully described a landscape abounding with water bodies, hidden rocks, the sun and the moon, colours, and overflowing love and grief.
The individual shots were taken in Mácha’s region near Mácha’s Lake, Zahrádky near Česká Lípa and in the Bohemian Paradise (Český Ráj). The core of the project originated between March 27th and May 18th, 2016. Subsequently, I added the shots taken near the Nové Mlýny reservoir which took form in the same time frame and were thematically aimed for the project.
The collection was awarded third place in Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2016, received the committee’s recognition in Los Angeles (2016 – IPA, International Photography Awards) and at the Luxembourg Art Price (2016). The project “Mácha Contemplations” was also published on the website of the prestigious British magazine On Landscape, and a selection was also published in print in “Visions 2016”, a yearbook by 1X.com – a gallery curator website.
The project was fist exhibited in the Gallery of Art Critics (Galerie Kritiků) in Prague on Jan 6 – 20, 2017.
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The exhibition of scenes from Mácha’s countryside in the Gallery of Art Critics drew attention with its pictorial conception where its lively, colourful composition stood out and expressed impressively the mood and overall character of both the landscape settings and the poet’s lyrical narrative.
Vlasta Čiháková Noshiro, exhibition curator
Vladimír, I saw your exhibition yesterday. If it had not sounded so stupid, I would have written “finally, someone managed to give Romanticism a proper face.” Honestly, I am fed up with what I refer to (perhaps unsystematically) as “noir” Romanticism, as well as with the otherwise misunderstood colour-printed Romanticism overflowing with hearts, flowers, gentle lovers and Petřín in bloom. In your pictures (I cannot call them otherwise), there is everything. Life and the beauty of nature combined with mystery and anticipation of stories that could be both dark and colourful. Sometimes both at once. Yesterday, when I returned home, I read Máj again. I hadn’t done it in many years and if it wasn’t for your work, I probably would have never read it again. And for that, I thank you.
Jiří Roubal
The exhibition was absolutely amazing! I would have managed to stand and listen to all the stories associated with the images for hours!
Eva Dutková
Dear Vláďa, I came, I saw, and I was amazed.
It truly is something. I can’t believe it is a display of photography and not of paintings.
I brought a friend with me. We have worked together in personal development; he works with large corporations. It was quite easy to lure him because he loves both Mácha’s Lake and photography. He checked it out on the internet and wanted to see it.
We were both thrilled, he would recognize many of the spots because he goes there so often.
He is a soulful person and said: “This is exactly how I’d love to learn to photograph…”
Alena Ciprová
Dear Vladimir,
First of all, I must say I was astonished by the exhibited photos. Unfortunately, we could not make it to the gallery at a time when you were present. One late afternoon, the week before the exhibition closed, my girlfriend and I set out to see it. As I wrote in the first sentence, the technique and photography as such were just incredibly beautiful. My partner Bara was thrilled. I am writing this email to thank you for the great experience that your invitation has led us to.
Simply beautiful! 🙂
Samuel Martásek
Hello Vladimír,
I’m glad that I could attend the opening of your exhibition and enjoy your truly successful and consistent work inspired by K. H. Mácha.
Thank you once again for the invitation,
Best regards
Stanislav Kroupa
Congratulation, this is an amazing exhibition. I am French little photographer and discover your work right now. I have to say this is great. I will check your website for exhibitions in France. Well I hope so and I will be there.
Elena Ulrici
