1990 - 1999

Appasionata Humana
(Grandmother and Child)
1990
oil/canvas
115 x 140 cm

WHEN I FIRST GLANCED AT A POSTCARD FROM I9OO WITH ITS TRIVIALLY HONEYED SENTIMENTALITY, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR CYCLE. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY STARTED WITH KITSCH, AND ENDS WITH MONSTROUS GLOBAL MEGAKITSCH. WITHOUT OUR EVEN BEING AWARE OF IT, THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION IS OVERWHELMING US DAILY WITH VULGAR KITSCHY ADVERTISEMENTS FOR CONSUMER GOODS, FOODS, INSURANCE SERVICES, AND LOTTERIES WITH PRIZES RUNNING TO MILLIONS. BUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED BETWEEN THE BEGINNING AND END OF THESE HUNDRED YEARS? FROM ITS VERY BEGINNING, TECHNICAL PROGRESS ADVANCED AND COMFORT IMPROVED AT A DIZZY PACE. THE MOTTO "LIVE AND LET LIVE" WAS ADOPTED. BUT THE SEDUCTIVE DREAM ENDED UNEXPECTEDLY IN 1914 WITH THE OUTBREAK OF HATRED BETWEEN NATIONS - THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THEN THE WORLD LIVED THROUGH EUPHORIA, PLEASURES AND PROGRESS, BUT WAS ALSO HARROWED BY LONG STAGES OF PERVERTED PASSIONS AND UPHEAVALS IN WHICH AGONISING TRAGEDIES TRIUMPHED. YET IT WAS ALSO OUR FATE TO LIVE TO SEE JOYFUL EVENTS - THE FALL OF THE IRON CURTAIN. THE PAST CANNOT BE CAST ASIDE LIKE WORN-OUT BOOTS. IT HAS LEFT ITS MARKS ON US, IT IS IN US, WE LIVE WITH IT WITHOUT BEING AWARE OF IT.

J. A. PRAGUE - SUMMER 2OOO

 

My generation was born into war. Then, for forty years, our country was separated from the free world by an iron curtain. I have had the good luck to have been able to do what I enjoyed most - drawing and painting. I have also been fortunate in the friendship of many people who have been interested in my work. My journey through the oppressive labyrinth of the the times has been reflected in everything that I have created. I have tried to build my own world, in which every form, colour harmony or configuration of points would bear witness to that which I have lived.