The Black Hole Generation

“The Black Hole Generation” is a new artistic collective made up of three abstract painters from Prague who are on the verge of doing very exciting things. David Krňanský, Martin Lukáč, and Julius Reichel are like Europe’s version of the Still House Group in America.

David Krňanský (b. 1987, Prague, Czech Republic) graduated from the studio of Jiří Černický and Marek Meduna at the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design (UMPRUM). His work includes painting, drawing, collage, and site-specific installations. Throughout his work he explores minimalist motifs and repetition, which subtly hint at modernism yet aesthetically diverge and interact with forms in contemporary pop culture and music. Krňanský has most recently exhibited his works in the group shows Paintings in Galerie SVIT in Prague, B.H.G: Black Hole Generation in Gallery Leto in Warsaw, AABBAB- BAACBC in Nová Galerie in Prague, and Czech Painting of the 21st Century in 10 Images at Měsic vedne Gallery, České Budejovice.

Martin Lukáč (b. 1989, Piešťany, Slovakia) is a painter currently living and working in Prague. Lukáč’s work often nods to or directly references the recently- past aesthetic forms he encountered during his life growing up in post-occupied Bratislava. Subjects or motifs from 90s pop-culture (music, sports, television) are often present, and declare themselves through a certain gestural repetition on the canvas. Lukáč graduated from the Painting Studio of Jiří Černický and Marek Meduna in 2016. His most recent solo exhibitions include No Love all Hate at 35M2 Gallery, Prague, and “Bon Appétit” (duo show with David Krňanský) Ivan Gallery, Bucharest, Romania. He exhibited his work in group exhibitions in The National Gallery in Prague – Trade Fair Palace (2016), Leto, Warsaw (2016), I: project space, Beijing (2016), and Galerie AMU (2015), among others.

Julius Reichel (b. 1981, Kaplice, Czech Republic) graduated from the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design (UMPRUM). He used to be an active graffiti writer which still has its influence on his urge to work in the public realm. He treats painting as an object and extends the definition of both of them. For Reichel an exhibition is an opportunity to test out specific principles and laws connected to gallery spaces, the audience and the principles of how institutions function. Rarely does he only exhibit paintings or objects. Rather, he strives (often with David Krňanský as in an artist duo) to supply commentary, a framework and meaning that might sufficiently validate, interconnect and in influence the two of them, but also primarily a wider audience. Reichel has most recently had solo exhibitions at Gallery Ve Středu, Plzeň and Berlínskej Model in Prague as well as numerous group exhibitions.

The Dot Project is putting on B.H.G.’s first show in London, titled ‘The Kings Are Back’. The exhibition runs from February 8 through March 20.

↓ INTERVIEW BELOW

(Julius Reichel)

What are three attributes to describe yourself?

David: Artist, Enthusiast, Hobo

Martin: Merky, Hypocrite, Nerd

Julius: Snow on the beach +Švejk + Dreams about, Mount Everest and Antarctica

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

David: The Little Prince, I would like to chat with him.

Martin: Peter Griffin. Because he is hilarious and simultaneously he represents all the stereotypes and craziness of the world.

Julius:  Christopher Columbus. Darwin. Duchamp, and of course, all shamans and tribal chiefs, who lost his battle of the white man

Advice to your 15 year-old self?

David: I would like to say, work harder buddy, paint every day one painting.

Martin: I do not have any advice for 15 year old me. I’m good with who I am and who I was. Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. Maybe. At least that is what I think.

Julius: Too old, for the things I had to do 20 years ago.

Are there certain artists, styles or movements you’ve drawn inspiration from?

David: I was inspired by Modernism for a long time. I have tried to work more conceptual. I did bigger projects about nazi “degenerate art” exhibition. When I finished my studies, I started to work more intuitively and now my focus is on paintings. So inspiration is Avantgarde and contemporary artists, painters from my generation.

Julius: Nowadays no. Earlier, I watched very carefully. Today, I am seeking less and less. The more production is growing,  I am more self-centered egoist. And most importantly, I am trying to figure out how the art work in 2030. Assuming that the year 2030. Actually, I have always been interested in rather visionaries. And both in art and in science. Especially for the arts I think a large complex of activities

Can you talk about technique?

David: My work has  many layers. I oscillate between expressive gestures and depersonalized mechanical gesture. Often I paint without brushes. I like to do research of relation between artist, his hand and canvas. I’m interested in canvas surface, material and design.

Julius: Acrylic. Cotton painting without a frame. Expression, money. Bubble, Minimalism. Calder. Death, and many other attributes.

(Martin Lukáč)

What do you want your viewers to take away from your work?

David: Through the paintings I try to struggle with the everyday reality we are living in. There is so much technology around us and we still don’t know who we are, why the world exists…In this case I think it’s correct to deal with composition of painting according to my own logic

Martin: I think it is up to them. If there is some particular common feeling in my works ( and I hope there is) people should be able to recognize it. Of course I’m giving full power to my work and I know exactly what I want to tell. But it is up to people. For sure.

Julius: Ask why

How would you describe the word “ART”, What does it means to you?

David: limitlessness, pleasure, dilettantism, madness, despair….Art has as many faces as you can imagine…Maybe more then we can imagine.

Julius: Market

Why did you choose to be an artist?

David: When I was 16 – 17 one of my friend he lived in my neighborhood was a painter. He did paintings like a Picasso and I really enjoyed it. So I started to paint…because it’s fun.

Martin: Actually it just happened. I draw since I can remember. I was always dreaming and painting was always helping me to achieve some point or level or state of mind which gave me satisfaction.

Julius: I wanted to change history.

(David Krňanský)

If you weren’t an artist, what else would you do?

David: Probably I have a restaurant.

Martin: I would have a small business like selling hot-dogs or sunglasses. Some douchebag job.

Julius: I flew by helicopter. He was captain of the submarine. MSF. Or premieres in Germany. Or maybe, I was sweeping the street. Because nothing other than paint pictures do not know how. And I know how to paint a picture on the top level characters

Do you have any quotes from previous artists which are important for you? A few words of wisdom that you hold onto or remember?

David: My Professor and great artist, Jiří Kovanda, always told me, “You have to do only what you love.”

What was the last exhibit you went to that really stuck with you and why?

Martin: Eddie Peake at The Curve. It was just mind blowing!

 

Interview by Art of Choice ©