87JiříMatějů* 1960From the cycle The Five Books of Moses, 2018
From the cycle The Five Books of Moses, 2018
Created
2018
Technique
pigment with organic and inorganic binders, handmade paper, kappa
Dimensions
h 31,7 × w 24 cm
Short item description
Jiří Matějů develops a distinctive version of geometric abstraction and is currently one of its strongest representatives. The most important contemporary Czech philosopher Miroslav Petříček called his paintings “visual metaphors”. Matějů himself refers to them as “optical metaphors”, understanding this term as “some concrete experience that is abstracted into something intuitive”. The basic building blocks of his paintings are colour and line. The precise division of the surface in combination with an unconventional combination of colours, which he himself mixes with various pigments, creates specific optical relationships that give the compositions an unusual impact. The paintings evoke the impression of movement, impermanence and changeability; two-dimensional paintings acquire a spatial dimension into which the viewer can enter as a direct participant. Matěj's artistic language is characterized by an unusual philosophical depth and is influenced by Buddhism, contemporary philosophy and other sciences. In addition to private collections, his works are also represented in institutional collections such as the Aleš South Bohemian Gallery, the Moravian Gallery in Brno or the Marek Collection.
