Marek Schovánek

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*1965, CZE
Marek Schovánek is a political interrogator. His actions establish an inquiry and at times a severe judgement. His works constitute an inversion and dissection of social, historical, political and aesthetic theory as an ongoing process. His artistic work encompasses an oeuvre of considerable scope and is included in many private and public collections worldwide. It is not limited to one medium, but ranges from painting to sculpture to temporary installations and covers a wide spectrum in the choice of genres. Marek Schovánek’s installations, paintings and objects offer a positive view on a contemporary Tower of Babel, telling many stories at once. As if reflecting on his own personal history: his roots in Czechoslovakia, his training in Canada and his current work experience in Berlin and Prague, his works function as an uneasy map for understanding those artists that cross borders, enrich artistic alphabets and question the idea of purity, be it in art or identity. The images from Marek Schovánek's Steganography series transform the exhibition space into a reading room. Steganography refers to the technique of successfully transmitting secret messages. This demands that the viewer looks past the surface to discover the message beneath. Several of the pictures are reminiscent of antique handwriting on yellowed paper, and it seems as if rain has broadly washed out the ink. The delicate rhythm of the script traces across all of the images, no matter what materials are used.