Mummy in Lace: Teresa Eisner’s Macabre Porcelain Sculptures on Display
The Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region is currently hosting an exhibition of porcelain sculptures and jewelry by contemporary artist Teresa Eisner, running until February 22nd.Eisner,who previously worked with a variety of materials,has recently focused on ceramics,notably drawn too porcelain’s delicate yet durable qualities.
While known for life-size figures and large-scale sculptures, Eisner now specializes in miniature porcelain works, often inspired by Art Nouveau and the decadent era. the exhibition,titled “Mummy in Lace,” showcases this unique facet of her work,featuring a blend of ornamental designs,animal and plant motifs,and striking vanitas themes – including human skulls.
Curator Adriana Primusová describes Eisner as “a true solitaire in the context of the Czech sculpture scene,” praising her virtuoso miniature work and expressive exploration of macabre scenes.
Eisner’s fascination with the skull dates back to her studies at the Václav Hollar Art School in the 1990s,and she revisited the theme of vanitas after graduating from the Academy of fine Arts. Around 2018, she began creating sculptural mummies, prompting reflection on mortality, the transience of the physical body, and the potential immortality of the soul.
The artist has previously exhibited at DOX in Prague, the National Gallery, and GASK in Kutnohorsk, among othre venues.
Tomáš Pilar’s “Harvest of a Calm Eye” Exhibition at GASK
The latest exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové (GASK) features paintings and drawings by Tomáš Pilar, exploring themes of landscapes and animals.The artist resides and works in a secluded family home with a garden in Podlažice u Chrasti. Organizers highlight the immediacy and unforced quality of his work.
“Harvest of a Calm Eye,” named after a poem by William Wordsworth, showcases a retrospective of Pilar’s creations from the last 13 years, with a particular focus on his recent pieces. The exhibition includes both paintings and drawings.
“Thematically,the exhibition centers on landscape and animals as ‘partner beings’ in close proximity to humans. Lyrical moods blend with existential melancholy and contemplation of impermanence,” explains GASK chief curator Richard Drury. He notes that pilar underscores the inherent value of nature, living creatures, and the present moment.”He reminds us that the unavoidable transience of life is surpassed by the enduring power of memory, reverence, tenderness, and humility,” Drury concludes.
Worth a look