Postmodernism in Bohemia Theory in Practice / Practice in Theory

The thesis deals with Czech art of the 1980s and with the way it was at its own time reflected in relation to the concept of postmodernism. As a widely discussed topic postmodernism enters Czech art scene in the middle of the 80s. At that time key texts were written (primarily by Jana and Jiří Ševčíks and Ludvík Hlaváček) and first unofficial exhibitions of students of Prague art academies known as Confrontations took place. "New painting" or "new art" was interpreted and perceived as an expression or manifestation of the ethical, political and life attitudes of the "postmodern generation". In this context generational theatrical, musical and performative activities were of particular importance (theatre ensembles of Pražská pětka, musical performances of Vladimír Skrepl and Martin John at the openings of their exhibitions, Vaclav Stratil's, Margita Titlova Ylovsky's and Vladimír Merta's band Apage Satanas and others). The thesis discuses some shared attributes of postmodern "mood" and in this broad framework interprets work of some particular artists (Martin John, Vladimír Skrepl, František Skála, Martin Mainer, Jiří Kovanda, Margita Titlová Ylovsky, Jiří Surůvka and others)