The Portu 1560 Gallery, in collaboration with the Association of Czech Graphic Artists Hollar, invites you to the exhibition titled Across the Continent: Czech and Japanese Contemporary Prints. The vernissage will take place on April 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM, and the exhibition will run until June 1, 2025.
This joint project of members of the Association of Czech Graphic Artists Hollar and Japanese artists, titled Across the Continent, presents a selection of contemporary graphic works from both countries, focusing particularly on pieces created using woodcut and linocut techniques. The works of Czech artists do not seek to imitate the specific characteristics of oriental art directly, but through their nature, expressive tools, creativity, and precise craftsmanship, they resonate with the unique Japanese style. Thus, the exhibition does not place Czech and Japanese works in a confrontational position but aims to foster a dialogue between the two artistic collections.
The art scene of the Far East continues to draw from its rich cultural traditions to this day. Artistic and craft quality, decorative elements, and iconography focused especially on figurative, floral motifs, or landscape scenes characterize oriental art across centuries. The influence of Japanese aesthetics and art on European culture was particularly evident at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In Czech art, this influence came to prominence during the Art Nouveau movement and continues to inspire artists in various cultural fields to this day.