Immerse yourself in 'Jan Švankmajer – The Alchemical Wedding,' a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to the renowned Czech surrealist animator. This unique installation showcases his distinctive blend of dark films, sculptures, and intriguing tactile objects. Explore Švankmajer's artistic journey through themes of obsession, lust, and the uncanny, presented with film screenings and accompanying talks.
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Jan Svankmajer - The Alchemical Wedding at Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam
This major retrospective showcases the bizarre and dark films, sculptures, tactile objects, collages, and prints of Czech surrealist and master animator Jan Švankmajer. The exhibition delves into themes of obsession, lust, horror, and eroticism, presented within a unique installation and accompanied by film screenings and talks.
The exhibition 'Jan Švankmajer - The Alchemical Wedding' is the first major retrospective of the work of Czech surrealist and master animator Jan Švankmajer in the Netherlands, running from 15 December 2018 to 3 March 2019. Švankmajer, born in Prague in 1934, is renowned for bringing everyday objects like steaks, pebbles, and iron locks to life in his films, which are filled with obsession, lust, horror, and eroticism, often underscored by an undercurrent of abuse of power. The exhibition at Eye Filmmuseum features a large installation where numerous short films by Švankmajer are screened amidst remarkable sculptures and 'spirited' images. It also includes three 'Wunderkammers' filled with collages, tactile objects, 'sick maps,' and 'medium' drawings. Complementing the exhibition, Švankmajer's feature films are screened in Eye's cinemas, and various talks and events are hosted. Švankmajer's artistic journey began with experimentation in puppetry, animation, and avant-garde film techniques, notably using stop-motion for his first short film 'The Last Trick' (1964). Despite facing censorship in the 1970s, which banned him from making films of a certain nature, Švankmajer continued to work as a visual artist, believing that "the only fitting answer to the cruelties of life is to ridicule them by using your imagination." His films draw parallels with the imaginative worlds of Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allan Poe, and have significantly inspired filmmakers such as The Quay Brothers and Terry Gilliam. The exhibition is curated by Jaap Guldemond in collaboration with Marente Bloemheuvel.
Information about tickets is not explicitly provided on this page, but the exhibition is part of the regular programme at Eye Filmmuseum, which typically requires admission. Visitors are encouraged to check the official website for ticketing details. A virtual tour is available for those unable to attend in person. The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of films, discussions, and other activities which may have separate ticketing implications.
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