Dalibor Chatrný 100
Tribute to Dalibor Chatrný
28. 8. 2025 20:00 – 22:00
The work of Dalibor Chatrný is one of the most remarkable phenomena in Czech visual art of the 20th century. His artistic language is characterized by an extraordinary range of experimental approaches, a constant search for new paths, and the posing of essential artistic and philosophical questions. In the second half of the century, he played a key role in shaping the art scene in Brno.
On the occasion of what would have been his 100th birthday, we invite you to the exterior of the House of Arts in Brno for an exceptional evening dedicated to his legacy. The event will take place on Thursday, August 28, 2025, starting at 8:00pm.
PROGRAM
8:30pm Correlation of Spaces – light intervention by Pavel Korbička
9:00pm Orbe pictus – videomapping by Pavel Korbička (19 min)
Text: Dalibor Chatrný
Music: Peter Graham
At 8:30pm, the light installation Correlation of Spaces by artist Pavel Korbička will be illuminated for the first time on the rear façade of the House of Arts, facing Koliště Park. This neon structure loosely references Chatrný’s artistic variations on the cube, a motif he explored from the 1970s onward. The installation is designed to interact with a specific part of the House of Arts architecture—its dimensions and placement refer to the protruding Jaroslav Král Hall and respond to the asymmetries introduced during the building’s renovation in 2008–2009. The result is a light object that symbolically balances the building’s proportions while also recalling Chatrný’s way of working with space and architecture. At the same time, it reflects a personal theme in Korbička’s work—displacement and the disruption of balance.
At 9:00pm, the videomapping Orbe pictus will be projected onto the front façade of the House of Arts. This audiovisual project was created in collaboration with composer Peter Graham and technician Tomáš Hrůza. The inspiration came from Chatrný’s 1980 text Orbe pictus, itself based on Comenius’ work The World in Pictures (1658). However, Chatrný transformed it into a contemporary, visually sensorial form in which the viewer becomes part of the experience. The videomapping is divided into nine visual segments, each with a different colored background and flowing texts that contrast with the colors. The imagery is accompanied by dynamic and emotive organ music that rhythmically interacts with the projected scenes, adding depth and tension to the piece. The work highlights the relationship between image and word—a central motif in Chatrný’s practice.
The evening "Dalibor Chatrný 100" is part of a nationwide celebration of this extraordinary artist, primarily organized by the Club of Concretists. The Moravian Museum is also participating in the program, presenting the installation Behind the Curtain at the Leoš Janáček Memorial (on view until September 7, 2025).
In the Centre for Documentary and Music Production of the Brno Television Studio of Czech Television, director Pavel Jirásek filmed a documentary portrait of Dalibor Chatrný entitled Drawn by the World – Dalibor Chatrný. The programme will be broadcast on ČT art on Tuesday, 26 August 2025, at 10:55pm.
In early 2026, the Jaroslav Král Gallery at the House of Arts will host the exhibition Words of Dalibor Chatrný, curated by art historian Alena Pomajzlová. The show will focus on Chatrný’s so-called “word works”—a specific strand of his art developed from the late 1960s onward.
You can also explore the rich world of Dalibor Chatrný’s work through publications available at the House of Arts, such as the comprehensive monograph Tak teď tu. Komplementární svět Dalibora Chatrného (So Now Here. The Complementary World of Dalibor Chatrný, published by Barrister & Principal), which offers the most complete perspective on his life and work to date. Another recommended title is The Spaces of Dalibor Chatrný, a collection of studies published by the Friends of the House of Arts on the occasion of the 2015 exhibition of the same name.
The House of Arts also offers special themed merchandise for the Dalibor Chatrný centennial—stylish black t-shirts and tote bags featuring a fingerprint motif from his artwork.
