Synopsis
Czech action art--a medium similar to performance art that does not require an audience--emerged out of the political and social turmoil of the 1960s. This movement has received little critical attention, however, as the Iron Curtain prevented its dissemination to an international audience. Here theorist and art historian Pavl na Morganov gives this art scene its due, chronicling its inception and tracing its evolution through to the present. Morganov explains the various forms of action art, from the "actions" and "happenings" of the 1960s; to the actions of land art that encompass stones, trees, water, or fire; to recent displays of body art; to the actions of the latest generation of artists, who are using the principles of action art in contemporary postconceptual and participative art. Along the way, she introduces the most prominent Czech artists of each specific niche, including Milan Kn z k, Zorka S glov , Ivan Kafka, Petr Stembera, Karel Miler, Jir Kovanda, and Katerina Sed , and demonstrates not only the changes in the art forms themselves but also the shifting roles of artists and spectators after World War II. With over one hundred illustrations, Czech Action Art introduces this heretofore overlooked but fascinating art form to a global readership., Czech action art-a medium similar to performance art that does not require an audience-emerged out of the political and social turmoil of the 1960s. This movement has received little critical attention, however, as the Iron Curtain prevented its dissemination to an international audience. Here theorist and art historian Pavlína Morganová gives this art scene its due, chronicling its inception and tracing its evolution through to the present. Morganová explains the various forms of action art, from the "actions" and "happenings" of the 1960s; to the actions of land art that encompass stones, trees, water, or fire; to recent displays of body art; to the actions of the latest generation of artists, who are using the principles of action art in contemporary postconceptual and participative art. Along the way, she introduces the most prominent Czech artists of each specific niche, including Milan Knízák, Zorka Ságlová, Ivan Kafka, Petr Stembera, Karel Miler, Jirí Kovanda, and Katerina Sedá, and demonstrates not only the changes in the art forms themselves but also the shifting roles of artists and spectators after World War II. With over one hundred illustrations, Czech Action Art introduces this heretofore overlooked but fascinating art form to a global readership., The book "Action Art" written by the theorist and art historian Pavlína Morganová, is a key academic monograph, comprising the origin and evolution of the Czech conceptual and, first and foremost, the performance art form from the 1960s to 1990s. Moreover, this publication is the only document in existence that provides a complete record and analysis of Czech conceptual art movement between the 60s and 80s. Not only does the author discuss the first collective actions, happenings and movement - Aktual, she also gives a lot of attention to Czech land art and body art. While using a very approachable narrative style, the author not only demonstrates the changes in art forms themselves, but also in the roles of the artist and the spectator after WWII. While relying on very precise source research, she introduces the most prominent Czech artists of this specific art niche and presents a comprehensive view of the Czech parallel of the international 60s and 70s neo-avant-garde.
