Places. For Eliška Čabalová, places are important for many reasons. The place of her childhood is the town of Valašské Meziříčí, and today she lives on Ostrava’s unique “Jubilee” housing estate. The atmosphere of these places, and the changes they have experienced, are captured in the graphic pieces exhibited here. This is not a sentimental or nostalgic view, but rather a sensitive evaluation. Čabalová’s sensitivity, her ability to see below the surface, her rejection of simple and obvious interpretations, and the acuteness of her sensory perception make her work one big palindrome.
Books. Eliška Čabalová has an iconic status within this demanding craft. The exhibition presents a collection of original and unique books handmade by her. Her bravura technique enables her to transcend the boundaries of decorative arts, reaching into the territory of free sculpture – as can be seen in the pieces from the cycle “Golden Books”. The exhibition also includes models capturing the historical development of bookbinding, aptly titled “Extinct Forms”.

Renata Skřebská

Second exhibition from the cycle OSTRAVA FOR OSTRAVA.

OSTRAVA FOR OSTRAVA
The cycle of exhibitions OSTRAVA FOR OSTRAVA draws on the gallery’s long-term strategy of presenting the work of artists with close links to our city (Hana Puchová, Daniel Balabán, František Kowolowski, Zbyněk Janáček, Petr Lysáček and more). In response to the current situation restricting gallery opening, we have decided to intensify our focus on this aspect of our activities and expand it to create a year-round programme. This year we will be presenting works by Václav Rodek, Eliška Čabalová and Marek Sibinský. I am confident that our mutually beneficial partnership with Ostrava’s cultural scene will continue in future years too.

Jiří Jůza

Curator: Renata Skřebská
Text: Renata Skřebská
Translation: Christopher Hopkinson
Graphic design: Katarína Jamrišková
Promotion: Jana Malášek Šrubařová, Magdaléna Staňková
Educational programmes: Hedvika Dalecká, Jana Sedláková

Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava