Petr Geisler: A Life in Calligraphy, Photography and Japan

A new exhibition at DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague celebrates the life and work of Petr Geisler, a Czech Japanologist, journalist, and photographer. The exhibition, curated by his daughter, Ester Geislerová, offers a comprehensive look at Geisler’s artistic pursuits, from his calligraphy and photography to his professional life and personal passions.

A Late Bloom of Discovery

The impetus for the exhibition began around 2012, three years after Geisler’s death. Geislerová found herself with more space and time to explore her father’s legacy, connecting with his friends and acquaintances who shared stories that offered a new perspective on his life. “It’s a shame that someone isn’t filming this!” she recalled thinking, leading to the idea of a memorial exhibition.

Calligraphy and the Power of Rediscovery

While Geisler’s calligraphy is central to the exhibition, it’s the rediscovery of his photographs, particularly those taken during a trip to Japan in 1987, that adds a significant layer. Thousands of color slides, long forgotten in the basement, revealed a keen eye for light, composition, and a unique technique of multiple exposures, creating photomontages directly in the camera. These images capture the sensory overload of Japanese streets, reflecting a multitude of sensations, stimuli, noise, light, and color.

A Multi-Faceted Exhibition

The exhibition spans three floors of DOX, including a tower and two floors below, each dedicated to a different aspect of Geisler’s life. Beyond calligraphy and photographs, visitors will encounter his everyday objects, journalistic work, translations, and footage of Czech Japanologists from the 1960s and 70s. A particularly memorable scene features Geisler dressed as a geisha and Martin Vačkář as a samurai, captured in a playful “happening” during a trip with colleagues.

A Journalist’s Insight

Geisler worked as a correspondent for the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun from the late 1980s, reporting on Central European news and contributing his own columns. Remarkably, he was granted the rare privilege of having his articles published without edits, a testament to his exceptional Japanese language skills.

Japan: A Dream and a Disappointment

Geisler visited Japan twice: in 1987 for a two-month internship that secured his position with the newspaper, and again in 1998 to lead a calligraphy workshop at the Yokohama Museum of Art. Despite a lifelong fascination with Japanese philosophy, literature, and culture, he found the reality of Japan somewhat disappointing, not aligning with the idealized vision he held.

A Family Legacy

Born into a family of artists – his mother was actress Růžena Lysenková and his father, Ivan Geisler, was a lawyer – Geisler’s interest in Japanese studies began serendipitously. A story recounts a rainy bus ride where a cousin wrote characters on a fogged-up window, sparking his curiosity. He later took up calligraphy as a way to remember his beloved professor Novák, creating works on unconventional materials like fax paper, envelopes, and cardboard.

A Collaborative Effort

The exhibition is a family affair, with Geislerová actively seeking out lost calligraphy pieces through social media. Over sixty framed calligraphy works will be displayed, alongside hundreds of scrolls. Geislerová emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, sharing her enthusiasm with her siblings and viewing the process as a “computer game,” collecting each new piece with joy.

Continuing the Legacy

Geisler’s influence extends to the next generation, with his grandson Bruno studying Japanese. A documentary, Two Children of Ink, created with Geislerová’s sister, Aňa, explores their search for their father in Japan, revisiting locations he photographed and interviewing his acquaintances. The documentary is slated for release at a film festival later in the year and will be incorporated into the DOX exhibition.