› Articles
Review: Soft and PinkUsing a beloved childhood technique, Josef Bolf springs a nasty surprise on visitors to Hunt Kastner
|
||||||
|
Josef Bolf - Soft and Pink/Měkký a Růžový While perusing Josef Bolf's exhibit at Hunt Kastner, I couldn't help but imagine the artist as a five year old, diligently scribbling away, crayon in hand, hoping beyond his wildest dreams that one day his masterpieces would hang in more prestigious places than his parent's kitchen. But Bolf's use of the time-honored, child-friendly technique of "scratch-painting" a black surface covering a base layer of crayon doesn't reflect an equally serene or comforting selection of motifs. Through his use of a technique layered with innocent, candy-coated memories, he's able to add a greater sense of unease and double the disquiet of his work. It's tempting to pretend that the works are those of a child showing the beginnings of an overactive and troubled imagination. Yet also his predominant choice of pinks and purples for the base layer, and his cartoon/comic-inspired figures drip with familiarity and entice the eye to take a closer look. His themes rely on a mixture of despair, entrapment, pain, and a handful of other things that make you feel really good about life. Most of his work is on a large scale with many minute details that require a good examination of his canvasses, adding to the intensity of the themes. Bolf himself has stated that he's also interested in the idea of miscommunication, highlighted symbolically by his broken computer wires but conveyed metaphorically through meshing of a rather innocent style, medium, and color with less comfortable intentions. By tricking us into letting our guard down, his motley comic cavalcade opens us up for a nasty surprise. Still, due to the comic nature of his style, all the blood, guts, tears, and severed limbs that make regular appearances in his work are somehow not real, or can be imagined away. Perhaps, we might think, that all the misery can be fixed with the comic band-aids usually scratched into the picture along with the gore. Take it for what you will; choose to ignore the incised message or turn your face in horror, something disturbing resides in Bolf's works and it lays in wait under your bed and in your closet just waiting until you turn the lights off… Soft and Pink is at Hunt Kastner Artworks, Kamenická 22, Prague 7 until July 15th, 2006 • For all the latest art listings, see the Prague Galleries Page |
Article added on Thu 29th Jun, 2006 [last updated Thu 29th Jun, 2006]Share this page 
|
| COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE | ||
| READ ALL ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES MORE ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES |
|
Interview: Al Di Meola by Frank Kuznik American Jazz Guitarist Added on Fri 11th May, 2012 (Last updated Fri 11th May, 2012) |
|
Cycle to Work Campaign by www.dopracenakole.net Alernative Commuting Added on Mon 16th Apr, 2012 (Last updated Mon 16th Apr, 2012) |
|
Prague Youth Theatre Summer Courses by Prague Youth Theatre Press Release Added on Thu 12th Apr, 2012 |
|
Review: The Eden Game by Sam Beckwith Staged Reading of Havel Play Added on Sun 1st Apr, 2012 (Last updated Mon 23rd Apr, 2012) |
|
Ladies Only by Lucie Kavanová Women-Only Train Compartments Added on Thu 16th Feb, 2012 (Last updated Thu 16th Feb, 2012) |
|
Interview: Jean-Paul Bourelly of the Black Stone Raiders by Frank Kuznik Jazz/Blues Guitarist Added on Tue 7th Feb, 2012 (Last updated Tue 7th Feb, 2012) |
|
In the Name of Havel by Ivana Svobodová Renaming Czech Streets Added on Fri 13th Jan, 2012 (Last updated Fri 13th Jan, 2012) |
|
Steamin' on the Piazzeta by Mary Matz Národní Divadlo Piazzeta Sauna Added on Tue 27th Dec, 2011 (Last updated Tue 27th Dec, 2011) |
|
Commentary: Art and Democracy Sent to Prison by Erik Tabery Roman Týc & Ztohoven Added on Tue 20th Dec, 2011 (Last updated Tue 20th Dec, 2011) |
|
Pacey: Doing It My Way by PTV Staff Paul Pacey Interview Added on Fri 16th Dec, 2011 (Last updated Tue 20th Dec, 2011) |
|
The Nightlife of a Great Yogi by Petr Třešňak Swami Maheshvarananda Sex Scandal Added on Mon 12th Dec, 2011 (Last updated Mon 12th Dec, 2011) |
|
Follow-Up: Who's Afraid of Alexei Zakharov? by Hana Čápová Dolní Olešnice Update Added on Tue 6th Dec, 2011 (Last updated Tue 6th Dec, 2011) |
|
Quiet Revolution by Mary Matz How Ballet is Changing Added on Thu 24th Nov, 2011 (Last updated Thu 24th Nov, 2011) |
|
The Best Prague Blogs in the English Language by Isabella Woods Expat Blogosphere Added on Thu 17th Nov, 2011 (Last updated Thu 17th Nov, 2011) |
|
The Beauty of Dumplings by Lucie Kavanová Knedlíky Láznička Added on Thu 17th Nov, 2011 (Last updated Thu 17th Nov, 2011) |
| READ ALL ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES |
Visit the Art and Culture main page
Find listings, help forums, tips and more
Galeria Harfa
The biggest shopping & administration mall in Prague
Ristorante Soave
La cucina italiana
Century 21
World Leader in Real Estate
MORE ARTICLES
Prague TV Home | Contact | About | FAQ | Site Map | Search | Advertise | Privacy | Terms of Service
Prague TV is a Real Time Production. ©2012 All rights reserved.
