A lecture given by the graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Magdaleny Kracík Štorkánové (*1980), will be dedicated to monumental mosaics in the public space, but also to mosaics of smaller dimensions and to their restoration. At the same time, the artist will also present her work in the Windows Gallery at the Vienna Czech Center, for which she has prepared a special installation entitled "ILUMINIO MIO". The lecture, which will take place in English, will be compered by the Manager of the Czech Center in Vienna, Martin Krafl.
"Contemporary Czech artists involved in mosaics are often confronted with the difficult task of overcoming the genetic load bearing down on this technique which arose in the second half of the 20th century as a consequence of the ideological abuse of mosaics. It is necessary to differentiate between the quality of individual monuments using the mosaic technique, to preserve our cultural heritage, to document it and to dedicate the necessary care to it": Magdalena Kracík Štorkánová.
Magdalena Kracík Štorkánová creates monumental mosaics in architecture, but also smaller hung mosaics for interiors. She has systematically dedicated herself to mosaic art since her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. She has especially found expert mentoring during her international internships in Italy (at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Carrara in 2003, at the Scuola mosaicisti del Friuli in Spilimbergo in 2007 and in the mosaic workshop at the Institut Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence in 2014). She is the founder and chairwoman of the Art and Craft MOSAICS association whose main goal is to create new mosaics and to document and protect mosaic monuments. This renowned artist and restoration worker not only uses and combines natural materials (pebbles, marble tesserae), but also refined materials (semi-precious stones, Murano enamel and glass products from Preciosa Ornela's PRECIOSA Traditional Czech Glass brand). Her works can be seen at exhibitions and in private collections. She was chosen from among 120 applicants by the seven-member AIMC jury for an international exhibition of contemporary mosaics held in Vienna in May 2014 and her work "A fleeting touch of sunlight" was displayed at the Architecture Center in the Museum Quarter along with the other international artists who made it to the final selection.
The opening of the "ILUMINIO MIO" installation in the Windows Gallery at the Czech Center in Vienna will take place on Wednesday, 14th January 2015 at 6:00 pm. The exhibition will continue until 30.4.2015.
The lecture will take place at 6:30 on the same day.
