Ways of interpreting action-art

Pavlína Morganová Ways of interpreting action-art Based on the publication by three outstanding Czech theorists: Jindřich Chalupecký (1910-1990), Petr Rezek (1948) and František Šmejkal (1937- 1988), Morganova describes three different ways of interpreting action art. She analyzed art pieces from 1966, 1977 and 1981, referring to the early and mature stages of action art in the Czechia. The presented study brings together significant examples of Czech action artist, for example Vladimir Boudnik the precursor, and Milan Knížák, a younger follower. There are also references to the international context (for example the Fluxus movement), philosophy (phenomenology) and psychology (Carl Gustav Jung’s theories). Morganova draws readers’ attention to difficulties in unequivocally explaining and commenting on action art. The final reflections are aimed at resolving the question of whether and to what extent that kind of art belongs to postmodernism