”Stanislav LIBENSKÝ Jaroslava BRYCHTOVÁ”　 Exhibition

Stanislav LIBENSKÝ (1921-2002) and Jaroslava BRYCHTOVÁ (1924-) are artists of the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia). They are known for the breadth of their glass work, which ranges from sculptural pieces to architecture.

In 1955, Brychtová took a drawing Libenský had made of a girl’s head shaped like a bowl, modeled the drawing in clay and cast it in glass to create the work, Headbowl(1955-56). The mysterious, beautiful sculpture, called “Miska” in Czech, was Libenský and Brychtová’s first collaborative work and it became the foundation of their creative endeavors. The two artists, this is to say, established a highly unique production style in which Libenský, a trained painter, sketched images and Brychtová, a sculptor, developed them in three dimensions and cast them in glass.
In their early-period works of human head motif, they brought the transparency and permeability of glass into play by placing a void inside the form. As one views them from different angles, the heads appear to change in facial expression and, thus, splendidly capture people’s complex inner life. Thereafter, Libenský and Brychtová actively brought the qualities of “light” and “space” into glass expression and became increasingly abstract. They also steadily broadened their range to include architectural spaces and large-scale pieces. When light fills their works, beautiful shadows are born so that the works seem enveloped in sacredness. In this way, the space itself in which they stand is transformed into a work of art. The world of solemn wonder achieved by Libenský and Brychtová captivated the viewing public, and their activities took them beyond the Czech Republic to participation in international expositions and exhibitions, where they won high international acclaim.
Along with important sculptures from every stage of Libenský and Brychtová’s collaboration, this exhibition will present Libenský’s early works and drawings, and materials related to the pair’s architectural works so as to trace the development of their art. Libenský the painter and Brychtová the sculptor: by fusing their sensibilities they created a peerless glass world. We invite you to experience it.

Organized by:
Toyama Glass Art Museum
Supported by:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Embassy of the Czech Republic
CZECH CENTRE TOKYO

Contact

Toyama Glass Art Museum
bijutsukan-01@city.toyama.lg.jp