Jiří David is a leading figure in the formation of postmodernism in Czech culture during the latter half of the 1980s. As with his contemporaries, his early works leaned toward neo-expressionism, as evident in the unofficial Konfrontace (Confrontations) exhibitions (starting in 1984). His work then underwent a transformation similar to that of other young artists in his circles with a focus on postmodern treatment of the painting. His paintings at that time approached the Italian Transavantgarde and Jung Wilde.
As basic visual information he began to use signs sometimes accompanied by text. His canvas, based on work with colours and sometimes even monochromically harmonised, bore with them a clear, easily comprehensible message. Drawing, the object, installation and photography plays a significant role in his work. In his diverse works David brings together a performative approach to art and interest in the paradox, in which he skilfully oscillates between a romantically aestheticizing approach and a rational detachment.
A very important early work of David’s is his Home cycle of paintings which he fits with a national theme and an interest in low-brow genres, partly in reaction to the onset of postmodernism and partly to the development of Czechoslovak society at the end of the 1980s. Jiří David cofounded – to assert postmodernism as completely essential – the group Tvrdohlaví and since 1990 has been one of the main creators of Prague's MXM Gallery.
At the turn of the 1990s he was one of few Czech artists to make a name for himself on the international scene. His works were mentioned in Flash Art magazine between 1987 and 1993, and the Italian Transavantgarde guru A. B. Oliva included him in his book Superart. In 1990 David exhibited at Aperto in Venice. He then took part several more times in accompanying exhibitions of the Venice Biennale.
In addition to introducing the paradoxical as a theme, David’s work can be characterised by two other central lines: an inclination to provoke and the theme of identity. David understands identity as a current cultural problem and as his authentic position from which he can communicate to the viewer through his work.
A number of David’s works managed to open debates on contemporary Czech art. Undoubtedly among the most discussed were his Hidden Images cycle of photographs, the monumental neon installation Crown of Thorns over the Rudolfinum and the Red Heart over Prague Castle and the series of staged photographs entitled My Hostage. His cycle of manipulated photographs No Compassion also made its way into an international context.
Studies:
1982-1987 Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, atelier of Arnošt Paderlík and Jiří Ptáček
Employment:
1995-2002 head of the atelier of visual communication at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
since 2004 head of the intermedia atelier and the concept atelier at the Academy of applied arts, architecture and design Prague
Awards:
2009 selected in a public survey of the magazine Reflex
Bibliography selected (foreign)
The Portrait Now, National Portrait Gallery, London 2006
Making Faces: The New Photographic Portrait, Thames & Hudson, London. 2006
Inside Out –texty Jiří David, Jaques Derida, Martin Dostál, vydal Kant 2006
Spike art Magazine (Austria), Noemi Smolik, 2005
Art in America, issue September 2005, Richard Vine, Doismilecinco ecinco (Brazil) 2005
No Compassion Blast No 8 Juillet/ aoůt 2003
Jussi Vilkuna – Kaltio Nro 3/2003- No Compassion etc
Art Forum – autumn number 2005, about Prague biennale 2
Charlotte Leuzon-Mirian – Jalouse Nro 56 Decembre 2002
Von Christian Tröster „ Kunstszene :Prag, Art Das Kunstmagazim (März 1999)
Pepe Karmel: Art in Rewiev-Hidden Image,New York Times (July 28),1995
Erik Perret:Man at his Best:"Better Halves" Esquire,New York, (1995 February)
Andrée Cooke: "Cityscpace:Prague",Flash Art International (N.184 October 1995)
Rebecca Knapp: "Praguee´s Golden Oportunitz", Art &Antiques,USA (December 1995)
Valerie Smith: "Third Way", Art Forum International (January 1991)
Piero Doggivanni, Tema Celeste,(N.32,33),1991
Miriam Mirolla,Flash Art Italia (N.165,Decembre),1991
Claudia Jolles: "Eine Revolution im Samt und Rosen" Art(May ,N.5) ,1990
Helena Kontová: "Jiří David",Flash Art Italia (N.156,June-July),1990
Kim Levin: "Avant - Slav" Voice(June,N.20),1989,
A.B.Oliva: "Super Art" ,Giancarlo Politi Editore 1989
Jana a Jiří Ševčíkovi: "Reality or Make-Believe",Flash Art International(N.152,May-June 1990)
Euan Mc Artur: "Jiří David", Art Monthly(N.114,March,London),1989
Jana a Jiří Ševčíkovi: "From Prague",Flash Art International (N.139,March) ,1988
Stuart Morgan: "Jiří David" Artscribe,May, 1988(N.69)
A.B.Oliva :"Neo Europe East ",Flash Art Internationál (N.140,May),1988ember 2007
Jiri David - Rust (Paintings 2006)
AP Pleskot Gallery, Prague, Dec. 15 – Feb. 25, 2006 , Flash Art 08, March- April, 2007, text- V.Cech
The Portrait Now, National Portrait Gallery, London 2006
Making Faces: The New Photographic Portrait, Thames & Hudson, London. 2006
Art in America, issue September 2005, Richard Vine, Doismilecinco ecinco (Brazil) 2005
Spike art Magazine (Austria), Noemi Smolik, 2005
Jiri David, BABY No 8 Spring 2003
No Compassion Blast No 8 Juillet 2003
Jussi Vilkuna – Kaltio No 3/2003 – No Compassion etc.
Charlotte Leuzon-Mirian – Jalouse No 56
Decembre 2002
Martin Dostál – David–David, book 2002
Martin Dostál – European Photography (number 71) 2002
Jiri David – Retrospective book 2001, texts by Jiří David, Martin Dostál, Jana a Jiří Ševčík
Helena Kanyar, „Ungeplante Verbindung“, Basler Magazin (17 April 1999)
Von Christian Tröster, „Kunstszene: Prag, Art Das Kunstmagazim“ (März 1999)
Centrum Sztuki Wspólczesnej, Zamek Ujazdowski, Warszawa, Poland, text by M. Dostál (1996)
Pepe Karmel: Art in Rewiev – Hidden Image, New York Times (July 28), 1995
Erik Perret: Man at his Best: „Better Halves“, Esquire, New York (1995 February)
Andrée Cooke: „Cityscpace: Prague“, Flash Art International (N. 184 October 1995)
Rebecca Knapp: „Prague’s Golden Opportunists“, Art &Antiques, USA (December 1995)
Galerie Rudolfinum, Praha, Czech Republic, texts by Martin Dostál, Jacques Derrida, Helena Kontová, Václav Bělohradský, Jana a
Jiří Ševčík (1994)
Marisa Vescova, Tema Celeste (N. 36), 1992
Miriam Mirolla, Flash Art Italia (N. 165, Decembre), 1991
Czech Documentary Art a Poetry of Resistance, Freedom, Chicago Tribune, Octobre 1992
Valerie Smith: „Third Way“, Art Forum International (January 1991)
Piero Doggivanni, Tema Celeste, (N. 32, 33), 1991
Claudia Jolles: „Eine Revolution im Samt und Rosen“ Art (May, N. 5), 1990
Helena Kontová: „Jiří David“, Flash Art Italia (N. 156, June–July), 1990
Jana a Jiří Ševčíkovi: „Reality or Make-Believe“, Flash Art International (n. 152, May–June 1990)
Kim Levin: „Avant – Slav“, Voice (June, N. 20), 1989
A. B. Oliva: „Super Art“, Giancarlo Politi Editore, 1989
Euan Mc Artur: „Jiří David“, Art Monthly (N. 114, March, London), 1989
A. B. Oliva: „Neo Europe East“, Flash Art Internationál (N. 140, May), 1988
Jana a Jiří Ševčíkovi: „From Prague“, Flash Art International (N. 139, March), 1988
Stuart Morgan: „Jiří David“, Artscribe, May, 1988 (N. 69)
vvp.avu.cz/idatum/search/autori-46
cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji%C5%99%C3%AD_David
on-line rozhovor ČT 24, 13. 3. 2009, www.ct24.cz/chat/173-jiri-david/
David Kulhánek: Jiří David je hutný, subjektivní a divoký, 10. 3. 2009, kultura.ihned.cz/c4-10104060-35535870-005000_d-jiri-david-je-hutny-subjektivni-a-divoky
Petr Volf: OSOBNOST XX VÝTVARNÉHO UMĚNÍ, březen 2009, www.reflex.cz/Clanek35177.html
Petr Volf: Mám v sobě pořád cizince, rozhovor, březen 2009, www.reflex.cz/Clanek35234.html
Martina Buláková: Jiří David je jako sopka, která chrlí lávu, 8. března 2009, kultura.idnes.cz/jiri-david-je-jako-sopka-ktera-chrli-lavu-fd6-/vytvarneum.asp
Radek Wohlmuth: Co dělá Jiří David, když neglosuje a není kontroverzní, 6.3.2009, aktualne.centrum.cz/kultura/umeni/clanek.phtml
ČTK: Nejvlivnějším výtvarným umělcem posledních 20 let je Jiří David, 5.3.2009, www.ceskenoviny.cz/kultura/zpravy/nejvlivnejsim-vytvarnym-umelcem-poslednich-20-let-je-jiri-david/364042
Karel Oujezdský: Jiří David - Předběžná retrospektiva, 27.02.2009, www.rozhlas.cz/mozaika/vytvarne/_zprava/553034
Magdalena Čechlovská: Jiří David přesvědčuje, že je neznámý, 27. 2. 2009, hn.ihned.cz/c4-10133300-34880330-500000_d-jiri-david-presvedcuje-ze-je-neznamy
Lenka Lindaurová: Jiří David a Milan Salák: Čím víc jsme sví, tím víc jsme jejich, zima 2006/2007, www.artservis.info/index.php
Radek Wohlmuth: David ve Futuře: Další trefa do černého, 13.4.2006, aktualne.centrum.cz/kultura/umeni/clanek.phtml
Josef Chuchma: Jiří David bez soucitu, 2006, A2, www.advojka.cz/archiv/2006/19/jiri-david-bez-soucitu
Radek Wohlmuth: V obraze tentokrát - Prostý záznam..., 2.12.2005, aktualne.centrum.cz/kultura/umeni/clanek.phtml
Jiří David (1956), anketa Malující umělci, A2 kultuní týdeník 30/ 2007, s. 11
Čest výjimkám (anketa v rámci street artového festivalu NAMESv Praze), A2 kulturní týdeník, 35/ 2008
Totální distance v období sociální vybledlosti.
Text je současně i osobním výtvarným manifestem, obsahuje požadavek odmítnutí symbolického jazyka, alegorie, ale i psychologizace díla. 1988