Vladimír Boudník
Encyclopedia
Vladimír Boudník was a key figure in Czech
post-war art, and a representative of the "explosionism" movement. He is best known for his active and structural graphic art, but also created mostly photographic and monotype works that, until recently, remained unknown.
Boudník was sent to forced labor in Germany, an experience that resulted in a lifelong trauma. After the war, he attended art school, where he studied printmaking. He spent a brief period working in advertising before getting a job at an ironworks in Kladno
, where he met Bohumil Hrabal
. In 1952 Boudník, began working for ČKD Works
in Prague. The factory environment served as an inspiration for his "active graphics" made of industrial material and waste. In 1968, Boudník committed suicide while experimenting with asphyxiation
.
His work had a large influence on many contemporary Czech artists, especially author Bohumil Hrabal
, with whom he shared many years of friendship. Boudník appears in several novels by Hrabal.
Since 1995, the city of Prague has annually awarded the Vladimír Boudník Award (Cena Vladimíra Boudníka) to a living Czech printmaking artist.
At least five volumes of collected works and correspondence of Vladimír Boudník have been published since the 1990s.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
post-war art, and a representative of the "explosionism" movement. He is best known for his active and structural graphic art, but also created mostly photographic and monotype works that, until recently, remained unknown.
Biography
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Boudník was sent to forced labor in Germany, an experience that resulted in a lifelong trauma. After the war, he attended art school, where he studied printmaking. He spent a brief period working in advertising before getting a job at an ironworks in Kladno
Kladno
Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 km northwest of Prague. Kladno is the largest city of the region and holds a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000 people...
, where he met Bohumil Hrabal
Bohumil Hrabal
Bohumil Hrabal was a Czech writer, regarded as one of the best writers of the 20th century.- Life and work :...
. In 1952 Boudník, began working for ČKD Works
CKD
A knock-down kit is a kit containing the parts needed to assemble a product...
in Prague. The factory environment served as an inspiration for his "active graphics" made of industrial material and waste. In 1968, Boudník committed suicide while experimenting with asphyxiation
Erotic asphyxiation
Erotic asphyxiation or breath control play is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal. The sexual preference for that behavior is variously called asphyxiophilia, autoerotic asphyxia, hypoxyphilia. Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a...
.
Boudník as an artist
Boudník worked mostly in graphics, and developed a number of innovative printmaking techniques. He was also one of the first Czech artist to begin working with the general public, organizing "happenings" and interacting with psychiatric patients.His work had a large influence on many contemporary Czech artists, especially author Bohumil Hrabal
Bohumil Hrabal
Bohumil Hrabal was a Czech writer, regarded as one of the best writers of the 20th century.- Life and work :...
, with whom he shared many years of friendship. Boudník appears in several novels by Hrabal.
Since 1995, the city of Prague has annually awarded the Vladimír Boudník Award (Cena Vladimíra Boudníka) to a living Czech printmaking artist.
At least five volumes of collected works and correspondence of Vladimír Boudník have been published since the 1990s.
Literature
- Něžný Barbar (The Gentle Barbarian), Bohumil Hrabal, Prague: Petlice 1973 (underground publishing house); Exile edition: Index, Köln, 1981. The novel features Boudník.
- Zdeněk Primus (ed.), Vít Havránek, Vladislav Merhaut, Martin Pilař, Jan Rous, Jiří Valoch: Vladimír Boudník mezi avantgardou a undergroudem
[ Vladimír Boudník between the avant-garde and underground] , 2004, ISBN 80-86010-77-5. Monograph tracing Boudník's life and works. http://www.galleryjk.cz/knihy_us.html
External links
- Overview of Boudník's works
- Biography in Czech
- Photo galleries of Boudník's paintings : http://www.galleryjk.cz/boudnik/index_us.htm, http://www.tea-art.cz/galerie/boudnik/boudnik.htm.