Jiri Kolar (1914-2002) - Olympic centennial

ABOUT THE PRINT
- Lithogrpah on Velin d'Arches paper, 270 gr.
- Hand-signed and numbered.
- Belonging to the artistic project 'Suite Olympic Centennial'

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

The Olympic Suite consists of 50 lithographs and silkscreen prints chosen to represent various contemporary artistic trends. It was published to commemorate the first centenary of the modern Olympic Games. The selected artists work in a wide variety of movements and styles, from the hyperrealism of Antonio López to the abstraction of Sol Lewitt, including abstract expressionism, the geometrism of Arden Quin, conceptual art, pop art, the new realism of Baldaccini and Rotella, and the new fauvism of Dokoupil, among others. Among the artists represented are creators of great international renown, widely recognised by critics.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jiří Kolář (1914–2002) was a Czech artist, poet, and translator, recognized as a key figure in experimental and conceptual art in Central Europe. Born in Protivín, he was largely self-taught and became an influential voice in postwar artistic circles.

Kolář is best known for his innovative collage techniques, through which he reassembled printed images and texts to create new meanings. He developed unique methods such as “rollage,” “chiasmage,” and “prollage,” pushing the boundaries of visual language. His work often reflected political and social tensions, especially under the constraints of communist Czechoslovakia.

In addition to visual art, Kolář was an accomplished writer, contributing significantly to modern Czech literature. Due to censorship, he later moved to Paris, where his work gained wider international recognition.

Today, Kolář is celebrated for redefining collage as a major contemporary art form and influencing generations of conceptual artists.