Art Stories
Philanthropy and charity as a mirror of the soul
Libuše Dlabola Pražáková reflects her sons' childhood in her paintings.
The concepts of childhood, hope and love are increasingly resonating throughout society, forcing us to reflect on the extent to which we ourselves are capable of making a positive impact with the resources at our disposal. One way is through our personal involvement in charitable projects.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Happy Hearts Foundation, the promoters decided to offer their supporters the opportunity to participate in an online art auction. We have selected ten works that fit the organisation’s mission to build schools in areas affected by natural disasters and represent an attractive cross-section of the contemporary Czech art scene.
“Art speaks a universal language capable of evoking strong emotions. The winning bidders will not only help a good cause, but also receive an original object that will bring them joy,” believes Barbora Půlpánová, founder of the EduArt Experience project. The selection of ten artists is very diverse and offers a variety of techniques from classical painting, through glass and acrylic sculptures to works on paper. It also includes the so-called “tufting”, which has captured European and American artists in recent years. It is a carpet-making process with roots in antiquity.
Sculptor Magdalena Roztočilová with her work Madonna.
One of the objects is a cobalt blue sculpture depicting a maternal figure holding a child in a familiar gesture. Its author, the sculptor Magdalena Roztočilová, studied with Jaroslav Róna and Krištof Kintera and has long been cultivating her distinctive style, which is reminiscent of organic plant life. “My creative processes are inspired by both childhood memories and contemporary experiences. I am creating a kind of mirror for the soul that is tirelessly searching for love and self-knowledge,” Magdaléna describes her approach to creation.
Natalie Perkof often experiments with techniques: the auctioned work Hand is a combination of textile and acrystal.
The work of Natalie Perkof, an artist who crosses many techniques and whose usage of carbon in recent years has been characteristic, is also on a very intimate level. The seemingly unassuming relief Ručička (Little Hand) from the Manuál přirozenosti (Manual of Nature) series is an intimate handprint, and it raises the question of how offering help sometimes brings women to the edge of their own capabilities. “I am interested in interpersonal connection and how we experience our relationship with ourselves, our sexuality, spirituality and nature.”
Painter Libuše Dlabola Pražáková in front of the painting Vojáček.
A remarkable figure in contemporary painting is Libuše Dlabola Pražáková, who studied in Ostrava and Dresden. Her work is closely linked to personal experiences and themes of parenthood, femininity, everyday life and the ephemeral. In Vojáček (Little Soldier), she reflects on her role as a mother and looks into the delicate yet contradictory world of her sons. “The illness of one of them had me on the ropes, but it taught me to take a break, spend time with my children, not to rush.”
Petr Hajdyla and the painting study Koikoi.
The authors’ own parental experience is inscribed in her work very prominently at times, at others very marginally. The work of Petr Hajdyla, who studied painting in the studio of Daniel Balabán, does not usually contain a direct explicit account of his personal life. He usually moves in more expressive positions and the message of his paintings is shrouded in mystery and a series of symbols. An exception is the oil painting Koikoi, which is a tender study depicting an intimate moment after the birth of the artist’s fourth daughter.
Veronika Holcová likes to use handmade paper in her paintings.
Similarly, Veronika Holcová balances between fantasy and reality in her work. “I enjoy mapping the inner landscape, memories from my childhood, looking for beauty and peace. Movement and energy play an important role in my paintings and drawings. The more the viewer engages their imagination, the more they get from the painting.” The drawing Grannum Pollinis explores the symbiosis of nature and humanity and the fragility of existence. A small grain of pollen can cause a gentle tickle in the nose or a major allergic reaction. It can be as strong as the will to contribute and help.
We will introduce five more artists in the next post. You can bid on the Happy Hearts website.